COOPER: Abu Dhabi GP - Team By Team Report

Formula 1

COOPER: Abu Dhabi GP - Team By Team Report

Here’s what happened to the 12 teams in Abu Dhabi...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted November 04, 2012 Abu Dhabi (ARE)

Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing celebrates finishing third during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on November 4, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Getty Images)

After a low key event in India a week before the Abu Dhabi go had everything. Kimi Raikkonen proved a popular winner and supporters of title rivals Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel were happy to see them on the podium. There was also heartbreak for Lewis Hamilton, who retired from the lead yet again, and a remarkable amount of contact up and down the field – although Sergio Perez was the only driver to get a penalty. Here’s what happened to the 12 teams:

Red Bull Racing
Brake problems cost Sebastian Vettel badly in FP3, and the after qualifying ‘only’ third he was put to the back of the grid for not having enough fuel for a sample, an incident that led to some tension with Renault, whose call it was. The team then opted to start him from the pitlane. Meanwhile after KERS problems on Friday Mark Webber qualified a strong third. Vettel put in a storming race, losing time with an early stop for a new front wing after contact with Senna and marker board before charging up to third by the flag. Webber lost ground at the start and after an eventful race that saw contact with both Maldonado and Massa he retired after a collision with Grosjean on lap 38.

McLaren
McLaren and Lewis Hamilton in particular looked strong from the start of the weekend, and a very motivated Lewis did a great job to secure pole position at a track he enjoys. Jenson Button wasn’t happy with the car in qualifying and earned sixth, which became fifth after the Vettel penalty. Hamilton made a good start and was leading comfortably when he lost power and was forced to park on lap 20. Button ran sixth on the early laps but worked his way up to third in the final stint. However he was unable to hold off a charging Vettel and slipped back to fourth by the flag.

Ferrari
After being criticized for a lack of new parts recently Ferrari had a lot of new stuff on the car, notably wings. Ultimately it didn’t bring the pace that was hoped for as Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa could manage only seventh and ninth, although the Vettel penalty gave them both a one place boost. Alonso had another good first lap, passing Button and Webber to claim fourth. On lap 20 he gained one spot when Hamilton retired and another when he passed Maldonado. By the flag he was on the tail of winner Raikkonen. Massa had a busy race that included contact with Webber. He eventually finished seventh.

Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Lotus celebrates on the podium after winning the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on November 4, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Getty Images)

Lotus
Lotus showed good pace throughout the weekend and Kimi Raikkonen did well to qualify fifth, which became fourth after the Vettel penalty. Grosjean was only 10th after a mistake on his final run. Raikkonen made a great start to charge past Webber and Maldonado into second place. He took the lead when Hamilton retired on lap 20 and after a single stop on lap 31 led all the way to the flag, surviving late pressure from Alonso. Grosjean dropped back after a first lap pit stop following contact with Rosberg and retired on lap 38 after an incident with Perez and Webber.

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