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Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff had to settle for 2nd and 3rd places at the end of the season in Abu Dhabi. The Viennese later explained where Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton lost the most time.
Max Verstappen laid the foundation for his success on Saturday with the fastest qualifying lap. The Red Bull Racing star defended the top position at the start and led every lap to the finish. What appeared to be controlled driving was for the Dutchman, who feared late tire damage as in Imola, at times a tremor, as he later revealed.
But also Mercedes’ competitors Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton, who completed the last Formula 1 podium of the season, had their problems. After the checkered flag fell, Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff said: “First of all, I would like to congratulate Max and Red Bull Racing on this victory. They are the deserved winners and this time they had the fastest package. Our drivers struggled with understeer throughout the race and we lost a lot of time in turns 5, 6 and 7, and then again in the last sector. “
“We had a good performance on Friday, but we couldn’t take him with us to qualifying and to the race,” added the 48-year-old Austrian with a sigh, but also immediately explained: next year will make you stronger. “
However, there was praise for his protégés from the boss. “The performance of our drivers stood out on the track today. Valtteri had some tough weeks, but he made a strong comeback and got everything out of the car. Maybe we will discover something for the future this weekend, ”he praised the Finn, who had crossed the finish line ahead of his teammate.
And the seven-time world champion, weakened by his corona disease, also made a good impression on Wolff: “Lewis showed all his courage and perseverance: sitting in the car just two weeks after a positive test for COVID-19 shows who is ready for the team and how strong is his fighting spirit. “
“The last race of the season is also the right time to step back and see the whole season. Congratulations to everyone who participated in a season with 17 races that no one would have believed six months ago, ”said the Viennese. And he emphasized: “For us at Mercedes it was a year full of notable successes and achievements that we will remember for a long time. Many thanks to all the team members who contributed to this historic season. “
Even if there is only one test left in Abu Dhabi, work will not rest for the next few weeks, Wolff explains: “Although we are now on a three-month break from racing, our factories will continue to work at full throttle on the new car and the new. drive unit. job. At the same time, preparations are beginning for the new challenges of the 2021 season. A busy winter awaits us and we are all excited about the tasks ahead. “
Abu Dhabi-GP, Yas Marina
1. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:36: 30,256 h
2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes, +15.976 seconds
3. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +18,415
4. Alex Albon (T), Red Bull Racing, +19,987
5. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +1: 00.729 min
6. Carlos Sainz (E), McLaren, +1: 05.662
7. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Renault, +1: 13,748
8. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, +1: 29,718
9. Esteban Ocon (F), Renault, +1: 41.069
10. Lance Stroll (CDN), Racing Point, +1: 42,738
11. Daniil Kvyat (RUS), AlphaTauri, +1 Runde
12. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN), Alfa Romeo, +1 round
13. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +1 Runde
14. Sebastian Vettel (D), Ferrari, +1 rounds
15. George Russell (GB), Williams, +1 Runde
16. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Alfa Romeo, +1 round
17. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, +1 Runde
18. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 round
19. Pietro Fittipaldi (BR), Haas, +2 laps
Outside
Sergio Pérez (MEX), Racing Point, power transmission
World Championship stand after 17 of 17 races
driver
1. Hamilton 347 points
2. Bottas 223
3. Verstappen 214
4. Pérez 125
5. Ricciardo 119
6. Sainz 105
7. Albon 105
8. Leclerc 98
9. Norris 97
10. Gasly 75
11. Walk 75
12. Ocon 62
13. Vettel 33
14. Kvyat 32
15. Nico Hülkenberg (D) 10
16. Raikkonen 4
17. Giovinazzi 4
18. Russell 3
19. Grosjean 2
20. Magnussen 1
21. Latifi 0
Trademarks
1. Mercedes 573
2. Red Bull Racing 319
3. McLaren 202
4. Racing Point 195
5. Renault 181
6. Ferrari 131
7. AlphaTauri 107
8. Alfa Romeo 8
9. Haas 3
10. Williams 0
