Finland's Bottas wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
ABU DHABI, November 27, 2017
Finland's Valtteri Bottas won the Etihad Airways Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from Mercedes teammate and Drivers’ Championship winner Lewis Hamilton.
Valtteri Bottas won from pole position with Lewis Hamilton finishing in second behind him as the 2017 season came to a close, reported Wam, the Emirates official news agency.
It is his third victory, having scored his maiden win at Sochi this season and followed it by taking the flag in Austria and concluded a very strong weekend for the Finn.
As Mercedes ran away and hid at Yas Marina, Sebastian Vettel came home a distant third for Ferrari, 15 seconds down the road.
Chief executive officer of Yas Marina Circuit Al Tareq Al Ameri congratulated Bottas for winning the finale.
''We experienced four days of packed- fun activities from the thrilling races up to the pro-race concerts,'' he said.
''The Finn never put a wheel wrong after he took the lead from the start and held it throughout the ensuing 55 laps despite increasing pressure from Hamilton,'' organisers said in a press release.
Bottas had the edge on the ultra-soft Pirelli tyres during their opening stints, and had a lead of 2.5s when he pitted on the 22nd lap. Hamilton then led for two laps before pitting, and found himself able to push harder on the supersofts. Despite suggesting that it is impossible to follow another car and challenge it round Yas Marina, he got the gap down to 1.1s on the 29th lap, but Bottas always seemed to have an answer and never looked ruffled as he controlled the pace.