[ad_1]
Clear. Dry. Air + 23 … 22С, track + 29 … 25С
The 2020 season began in July and ended in mid-December, with 17 Grands Prix in five and a half months. The fate of the champion title and the Constructors’ Cup was decided ahead of schedule, but the fight for the remaining positions continued: there was enough intrigue in the final race.
The main one was related to third place in the Constructors’ Cup. The victory and the podium in the last stage at Sakhir allowed Racing Point to climb to third place, but in Abu Dhabi Sergio Pérez received a penalty for replacing the elements of the power plant and started last, and Lance Stroll lost in the standings to him McLaren team, which lagged behind Racing Point in all. by ten points, and I had a chance to win again.
In the final stage, Lewis Hamilton returned to the fight, having missed the last Grand Prix due to Covid-19. At the last minute the test came back negative, Lewis was allowed to leave Bahrain, then he passed the test in Abu Dhabi and was admitted to the paddock. His replacement, George Russell, returned to Williams.
On Saturday, Max Verstappen won the classification, taking the first pole of the season, on the decisive lap, ahead of Bottas by 25 thousandths. Hamilton showed the third time: the top three conceded by 86 thousandths!
The Abu Dhabi stage was the last for Renault and Racing Point; next year they will change their names to Alpine and Aston Martin. Kevin Magnussen ended his career in Formula 1, and Daniil Kvyat, Alex Elbon and Sergio Pérez did not have a contract for the next season. The stage was the last for Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari, Daniel Riccardo at Renault and Carlos Sainz at McLaren; All of them will change teams in 2021. The stage was the last for Formula 1 Executive Director Chase Carey: from 1 January he will be replaced by Stefano Domenicali. Carey received a helmet signed by all the riders.
The drivers’ parade is not satisfied this year, but they decided to support the tradition of general photography: the first group photo of racers wearing masks and at a distance. The challenging 2020 season has become part of history, we all hope for the best in 2021.
Pirelli brought the softest tires to Abu Dhabi: in the roles of Hard, Medium and Soft, they used C3, C4 and C5 compounds. Soft tires quickly lost their effectiveness, teams tried not to use them from a distance. Norris, Elbon, Kvyat, Stroll and Gasly started at Soft, Riccardo, Vettel, Perez, Magnussen; on Hard, the rest chose Medium.
Verstappen and Bottas started the race from the front row of the starting field, Hamilton and Norris from the second, Elbon and Sainz from the third. Daniil Kvyat was ahead of his teammate in qualifying and started seventh.
.jpg)
There were no incidents at first. Verstappen retained the leadership. Gasley was ahead of Okon, Magnussen, who started last, gained three positions.
The top ten in the second circle: Verstappen-Bottas – Hamilton – Norris – Albon – Sainz – Kvyat – Stroll – Ocon – Gasley.
Verstappen pulled away from Bottas, shielding himself from the attack, Hamilton falling behind his partner. The platoon stretched.
Peres was unable to recover quickly. On lap 3, he overtook Fittipaldi, and on lap 5, Magnussen and Russell were up 17th.
On lap 7, Albon edged out Norris for fourth place.
On lap 8, Stroll edged out Kvyat for seventh place. Pérez edged out Raikkonen in the fight for 14th place.
On lap 10, Sergio Pérez stopped the car due to a power station failure and withdrew with a gesture of frustration. The virtual security machine mode was announced, then the real one went.
.jpg "The safety car came out")
Everyone except Riccardo, Vettel, Leclerc and Giovinazzi entered the pits and changed their tires. Sainz drove slowly down the pit lane before changing tires, slowing Stroll, who was behind; the stewards will consider this incident after the race.
Top ten on lap 11: Verstappen – Bottas – Hamilton – Albon – Riccardo – Norris – Vettel – Leclair – Sainz – Paseo.
On lap 14, a restart was announced. Verstappen retained the leadership. Sainz edged out Leclair for eighth place.
On lap 15, Okon overtook Giovinazzi for 12th place.
On lap 16, Stroll passed Leclair, but Charles regained position. On lap 19, Stroll took the lead.
On lap 20, Gasley beat Leclerc for tenth place.
Top ten on lap 21: Verstappen – Bottas – Hamilton – Albon – Riccardo – Norris – Sainz – Vettel – Stroll – Gasley.
On lap 22, Windows overtook Leclair and Charles pitted and changed tires. Monegasque returned 19 – and immediately passed several overtaking.
On lap 30, Gasley edged out Stroll for ninth place.
On lap 32, Gasli edged out Vettel in the fight for eighth place.
On lap 33, Magnussen changed the tires.
On lap 36, Leclair overtook Russell in 14th place. Fittipaldi, Vettel and Latifi changed their tires.
On lap 40, Riccardo made a pit stop.
Top ten on lap 41: Verstappen – Bottas – Hamilton – Albon – Norris – Sainz – Riccardo – Gasley – Stroll – Ocon.
On lap 49 Magnussen changed tires, on 50 – Fittipaldi.
On the final lap, Okon edged out Stroll for ninth place.
After the finale, Bottas, Hamilton and Magnussen rolled donuts in front of an empty stand at the starting line.
–
Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for his second victory of the season and the tenth of his career.
Valtteri Bottas finished second, Lewis Hamilton climbed to the third step of the podium.
The 2020 season is over. Tuesday in Abu Dhabi will be the “youth” tests. New Years holidays, new car shows, winter tests are coming! The 2021 Australian Grand Prix is just 99 days away. We really hope it takes place!
Race results
| Pilot | Team | Time | Speed | Pete |
| 1.M. Verstappen | Red Bull | 1 | ||
| 2.V. Bottas | Mercedes | +15,976 | 1 | |
| 3.L. Hamilton | Mercedes | +18,415 | 1 | |
| 4.A. Elbon | Red Bull | +19,987 | 1 | |
| 5.L. Norris | Mclaren | +60,729 | 1 | |
| 6.K.Sines | Mclaren | +65,662 | 1 | |
| 7.D. Riccardo | Renault | +73,748 | 1 | |
| 8.P. Gasley | AlphaTauri | +89,718 | 1 | |
| 9.E. Okon | Renault | +101,069 | 1 | |
| 10.L. Walk | Racing point | +102,738 | 1 | |
| 11. D. Kvyat | AlphaTauri | +1 L | 1 | |
| 12.K. Raikkonen | Alfa Romeo | +1 L | 1 | |
| 13. S. Leclair | Ferrari | +1 L | 1 | |
| 14 S. Vettel | Ferrari | +1 L | 1 | |
| 15. D. Russell | Williams | +1 L | 1 | |
| 16. A. Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo | +1 L | 1 | |
| 17. N. Latifi | Williams | +1 L | 2 | |
| 18.K. Magnussen | Haas | +1 L | 2 | |
| 19.P. Fittipaldi | Haas | +2 L | 3 | |
| … C. Pérez | Racing point | + |
Best circle: Daniel Riccardo (Renault) 1: 40.926 (55 laps)
Reasons for retirements
| Pilot | Team | Circles | The reason |
| S. Pérez | Racing point | 9 | Powerpoint |
Championship position: Individual
Championship place: Constructors’ Cup
| Team | Motor | Glasses | |
| = | 1. Mercedes AMG Petronas | Mercedes | 573 |
| = | 2. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing | Sling | 319 |
 |
3. McLaren F1 Team | Renault | 202 |
 |
4. BWT Racing Point F1 Team | Mercedes | 195 |
| = | 5. Renault DP World F1 Team | Renault | 181 |
| = | 6. Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 131 |
| = | 7. Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda | Sling | 107 |
| = | 8. Alfa Romeo Racing | Ferrari | 8 |
| = | 9. Haas F1 Team | Ferrari | 3 |
