Abu Dhabi Grand Prix-In the Mirrors-Vettel claims the future of F1: Part 1

November 7, 10:55 PMFormula One ExaminerTerrence Connolly

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Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany reacts on the podium after winning the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

The final round of Formula One played out last Sunday on the futuristic stage of the spectacular new race track at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. Perhaps it was fitting then that this race might be a preview for the future of Formula One, with young sensation Sebastian Vettel laying the gauntlet down for 2010. He thinks he will be the man to beat next year, and with the way he drove this race and really, for the whole season, Vettel is indeed the new force to reckoned with in the world of Formula One.

Start/Lap 1

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton on pole gets a good start. Sebastian Vettel’s start in his Red Bull was not as quick, but still good enough to maintain second place to the first turn. Rubens Barrichello tried a move on Webber in third, but Mark held him off. Webber’s rear tire knocked off part of the front wing on Rubens Brawn which ends up stuck to team mate Jenson Button’s car. As the lap continued, Lewis probably thought he could build a bigger lead on Vettel, especially when Vettel pulled alongside Hamilton entering the hairpin turn which leads into the longest straightaway in F1, nearly 1 mile long. Hamilton kept the better line through the turn, and did seem to create a gap by using his KERS on the long straight.

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain leads the filed into turn one at the start of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack , in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Behind the leaders, Robert Kubica in his BMW pulled a classic draft move on the Toyota of Jarno Trulli on the straight. Trulli held him off, but only temporarily, when Kubica bumped him with a wheel a few turns later and got by him. Robert’s BMW team mate Nick Heidfeld seemed to line up Trulli next. Just ahead of that battle, Jenson Button rushed past his team mate Barrichello for 4th.

At the end of 24 turns and nearly 3.5 miles of the first lap, the running order is:
1-Lewis, 2-Vettel +.5, 3-Webber +1.2, 4-Button +2.1, 5-Rubens +3.8, 6-Kubica +4.3.                    Everybody is nicely bunched up at this early stage.

Lap 2

By the second time up the straight, Vettel is hanging right with Lewis, even though Hamilton seems to pull away on the super long straight section. Hamilton sets fastest lap of the race on Lap 2.

Lap 5

Brawn pit radio to Rubens, “The only car faster then yours is Hamiltons’s".

Lap 8

Mark Webber with new fastest lap.

Running order:
1-Lewis, 2-Vettel +1.3, 3-Webber +4.0, 4-Button +7.2, 5-Rubens +9.7, 6-Kubica +10.7.

Vettel is now quicker then Lewis overall, Sebastian is faster in both the 1st and 3rd sector, Hamilton is faster on the straight middle sector. Vettel is really hanging tough with the KERS-powered McLaren.

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, leads Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany, Red Bull driver Mark Webber of Australia and Brawn GP driver Jenson Button of Britain during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack , in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov.1, 2009. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Lap 10

Lewis sets new fastest lap. The sun glare is now really shining right into the driver’s eyes on several turns. Hamilton is trying to create a gap to Vettel since he is a least a lap short on fuel of the Red Bull’s of both Sebastian and Webber.

Lap 14

Webber sets new fastest lap.

Lap 15

First into the pits is Barrichello and Kubica. Brawn does not change Ruben's damaged front wing. No surprise, since he has been turning great times without the wing end plate. Lewis resets new fastest lap on track.

Lap 16

Lewis pits, 8.6 seconds, hard tires. Button also pits and as he emerges from the tunnel that leads back to the track, the World Champ is right in front of rookie Toyota driver Kobayashi, and a great battle unfolds. Kobayashi pulls alongside Button on the straight, can’t get by him, then does manage to pass the Brawn when Jenson gets out braked through the chicane. Great pass by Kobayashi.

End of Part 1

See also:

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix-In the Mirrors-Vettel claims the future of F1: Part 2