Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Abu Dhabi GP

Sebastian Vettel literally drove off into the sunset at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on the way to another all too familiar dominant victory. It’s his seventh grand prix win in a row and his 30.8 second margin over Red Bull teammate Mark Webber tells the story.

Mark got off the line okay but was quickly gobbled up by Sebastian then Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG), who slipped back to third at the end of the race. Rosberg finished less than three seconds behind Webber and felt a second place may have been possible but was happy to be the best of the rest.

An expected challenge for the podium from Romain Grosjean didn’t bear fruit for the Lotus driver who finished fourth. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) once again raced better than he qualified, finishing fifth ahead of Paul di Resta (Force India) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG).

Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and Sergio Perez (McLaren) provided some entertaining moments in mid-pack battles on the way to P8 and P9 respectively. While Adrian Sutil (Force India) picked up the final point on offer in a close fought affair.

Daniel Ricciardo couldn’t convert his ninth place start into points and he and Toro Rosso teammate Jean-Eric Vergne took a form finish of sorts back in sixteenth and seventeenth.

Kimi Raikkonen’s (Lotus) fight through the field from last place on the grid was short lived after contact with Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) forced him into retirement after the first corner.

Red Bull will be pleased with the one-two finish taking them to a total of 100 podiums in F1. But, as usual, the night was all about Sebastian and for the second race in a row he delighted fans with a series of donuts. This time though he took his car back to parc ferme as required.

Right now, he’s just too bloody good.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final placings

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing – 1:38:06.106 (25 pts)
2. Mark Webber Red Bull Racing – +30.8 secs (18 pts)
3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – +33.6 secs (15 pts)
4. Romain Grosjean Lotus – +34.8 secs (12 pts)
5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari – +67.1 secs (10 pts)
6. Paul di Resta Force India – +78.1 secs (8 pts)
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – +79.2 secs (6 pts)
8. Felipe Massa Ferrari – +82.8 secs (4 pts)
9. Sergio Perez McLaren – +91.1 secs (2 pts)
10. Adrian Sutil Force India – +93.2 secs (1 pt)
11. Pastor Maldonado Williams – +95.9 secs
12. Jenson Button McLaren – +103.7 secs
13. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber – +104.2 secs
14. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber – +1 Lap
15. Valtteri Bottas Williams – +1 Lap
16. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso – +1 Lap
17. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso – +1 Lap
18. Giedo van der Garde Caterham – +1 Lap
19. Charles Pic Caterham – +1 Lap
20. Jules Bianchi Marussia – +2 Laps
21. Max Chilton Marussia – +2 Laps

Retired/not classified
Kimi Räikkönen Lotus – 0 Laps (Accident)

Fastest lap
Fernando Alonso Ferrari – 1:43.434 (Lap 55)

2013 F1 world championship – Drivers (top 10)

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing – 347
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari – 217
3. Kimi Räikkönen Lotus – 183
4. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – 175
5. Mark Webber Red Bull Racing – 166
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – 159
7. Romain Grosjean Lotus – 114
8. Felipe Massa Ferrari – 106
9. Jenson Button McLaren – 60
10. Paul di Resta Force India – 48

2013 F1 world championship – Constructors

1. Red Bull Racing-Renault – 513
2. Mercedes – 334
3. Ferrari – 323
4. Lotus-Renault – 297
5. McLaren-Mercedes – 95
6. Force India-Mercedes – 77
7. Sauber-Ferrari – 45
8. STR-Ferrari – 32
9. Williams-Renault – 1
10. Marussia-Cosworth – 0
11. Caterham-Renault – 0