Having stopped a lap later than team-mate and race-leader Nico Rosberg at the first pit-stop, the world champion stayed out 10 laps longer than the German before making his second stop.
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The 30-year-old German, who has produced remarkable dominant form since seeing Hamilton secure his third drivers’ title at last month’s United States Grand Prix, made a ideal start from his sixth successive pole position and, pit-stops apart, was in control all the way. Maybe it’s just Rosberg’s will to win and finish the season in style?
“Goodbye to 2015 because it has been a very tough year for us, very hard and the performance has been quite poor”, the McLaren driver said.
While the Motogp title was hotly contested, France’s Sebastien Ogier was never really troubled as he sealed his third consecutive World Rally Championship with three races to spare in Australia. Next year can come tomorrow if it were up to me, no problem, I don’t need any holiday!
“Of course, it’s too late but I don’t look back”.
“Austin (Texas) was very disappointing for me”. My tyres were done at the end of the first stint sitting behind Nico.
“I don’t know to be honest because suddenly it has ignited something and he has driven superbly”.
“I’m excited about how the end of the season went and next year could come at any moment”.
Nico Rosberg may get around to sending Lewis Hamilton a Christmas card but can expect nothing in return from the triple Formula One champion after Sunday’s season-ender in Abu Dhabi. “It’s a great battle internally all the time, that’s what I race for”. “But we gave it a try and did the best job I could with it”. It is always tough to race Lewis.
Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari completed the podium and his Scuderia team-mate Sebastian Vettel produced a fine display to finish fourth from 15th on the grid.
“Obviously I would have loved to get on the podium again, but I think today’s result was the best possible one for us as a team”, Vettel said.
But any doubts over his competence as a front-running performer were erased in Abu Dhabi as Raikkonen ended what he told a pre-race FIA press conference has been a “pretty average” season with his most convincing race in some time.
“There has been so much discussion about has he [Nico] stepped up his game or has the vehicle come towards him development-wise, or has Lewis just taken it easier – unconsciously, not consciously”, Wolff added. “I am happy, it was good fun”.
Force India’s Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg finished fifth and seventh in Sunday’s race, separated by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.
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More than a second a lap is too big a gap and that’s not good racing. In his final race for Lotus, Romain Grosjean managed ninth (the Frenchman joins America’s Haas next season) and rounding out the top ten was Red Bull man Daniil Kvyat. Verstappen did cross the line in 12th, but was demoted after picking up two penalties – 5s for exceeding track limits and 20s for ignoring blue flags.
