Lewis Hamilton signed off the 2018 Formula 1 season in style with a dominant victory in Abu Dhabi, a race which saw drama and action aplenty, plus some emotional scenes as the chequered flag fell. Motorsport Week presents its winners and losers from the weekend.
Hamilton imperious up front
Lewis Hamilton’s Brazilian triumph was more than a little fortuitous but in Abu Dhabi he put in an emphatic display to cap his title-winning campaign in style. Hamilton’s Q2 lap on Ultrasoft tyres was nothing short of extraordinary and his ultimately pole effort was spectacular, as he wound up the W09 and gradually became more aggressive, particularly through the twiddly final sector that suits his approach. The Grand Prix itself was a masterclass in race management – Hamilton executed the start with aplomb and undertook a strategy that required some careful tyre preservation due to the unknown durability of the Supersoft tyres. Valtteri Bottas’ brake concerns meant Hamilton lost his wingman but it proved a development that did not affect the leader – even with Vettel on slightly fresher rubber the Ferrari driver was never a threat. A final win tally of 11-5, having been equal after Spa, tells its own story.
Kubica announced
Williams finally put an end to speculation last Thursday by confirming Robert Kubica as George Russell’s 2019 team-mate. A press conference was held in sweltering conditions atop Williams’ paddock building at Yas Marina and it was undoubtedly one of the best-attended events of the campaign. Kubica spoke at length about his determination to return to the Formula 1 grid while deputy team boss Claire Williams revealed her awe at Kubica’s commitment and approach in his reserve role this year, having missed out on a race drive to Sergey Sirotkin. Kubica’s return marks the culmination of one of the most unlikely and heart-warning sporting narratives of all-time, a remarkable story from near-death to a return to action in the face of ongoing limitations. But Kubica does not, and never will, want to be defined by his injury. And fortunately for his millions of fans next year he can prove on a public arena what he feels he can still do.
Fatigue setting in
There was a proper end-of-school feel to the Formula 1 paddock at Yas Marina, though also a sense of fatigue, considering it was the last of 21 Grands Prix, plus several pre- and in-season tests. With both titles having been wrapped up early there was little to play for, and undoubtedly the event lacked the star appeal and tension of some years, not helped by Yas Marina being towards the lower end of the ‘best circuits’ list. Liberty Media cannot help the fact that both titles were done and dusted early, but there was more than a couple of mutterings from paddock folk who wished the season was one or two rounds shorter. And consider that a 25-race calendar remains a probability in the coming era.
Bidding farewell
Abu Dhabi marked the 311th and final Grand Prix of Alonso’s career – though throughout the weekend there was never any concrete mention that this is it. Finito. Done. He may well be back in 2020. Who knows. Nonetheless, Formula 1, McLaren and Yas Marina ensured the event was celebrated widely. A barbecue was held in the paddock on Saturday evening and Alonso attended to watch a tribute video and receive a handful of gifts. One was a bizarre ‘Engineered Insanity’ poster, that made little sense, while the circuit opted to retain the artwork dedicated to his career in the briefing room, and named it after Alonso. The Spaniard also sported a revised helmet design and race overalls, while McLaren tweaked his MCL33 livery, posed for photos pre-race and gave him a guard of honour en route to the grid. Poor Stoffel barely got a look in.
Pirelli extends
Sunday morning delivered the expected news that Pirelli will remain as Formula 1’s sole tyre supplier through 2023. The Italian company replaced Bridgestone in 2011 and has heeded calls by the sport to firstly produce high-degradation tyres and latterly to come up with longer-lasting rubber, though most of the races this year have swayed towards a one-stop rather than the desired two-stop. Pirelli faced competition from Hankook but its bid was always likely to prevail, especially considering the financial prowess Pirelli brings to Formula 1. Pirelli’s new deal will last for four years and from 2021 it is set to introduce 18-inch tyres, in place of the current 13-inchers, as part of a range of overhauled regulations in the sport.
Hamilton – not big on big tyres
There were some usual end-of-season formalities to be undertaken on the grid prior to the start of the Drivers’ Parade on Sunday, with two awards presented prior to the school photo. Valtteri Bottas was handed the DHL Fastest Lap Award – and looked suitably thrilled – while Hamilton was handed a full-sized Pirelli tyre on account of taking 11 pole positions in 2018. Hamilton took one look at it, quipped “What am I meant to do with this big big tyre? Maybe give it to one of the fans or something,” before rolling it nonchalantly towards a nearby group of photographers. Will Smith then joined Hamilton for the Drivers’ Parade and walked around the place as if he was an excited teenager meeting all of his heroes, having labelled it as part of the bucket list he drew up for himself upon turning 50.
Crowning the next generation
Yas Marina has typically been the scene for the next generation of drivers to receive their accolades, while simultaneously trying to set up moves for 2019. Williams-bound George Russell duly sealed the Formula 2 title in emphatic fashion, storming to victory from pole position, his seventh of the year, putting him level with Stoffel Vandoorne and Charles Leclerc in the win stakes. As with Leclerc, Russell will graduate to Formula 1 with back-to-back GP3 and Formula 2 titles under his belt, and capped the season with a commanding 68-point advantage. His nearest rival in the standings turned out to be Lando Norris, as Alexander Albon endured a thoroughly miserable end to an impressive campaign and was jumped by the 2019 McLaren F1 racer as the chequered flag fell on Sunday. It was also the final GP3 event and Renault-affiliated Anthoine Hubert duly wrapped up proceedings in a season that featured very little in the way of standout performers. GP3, which has produced champions such as Leclerc, Russell, Esteban Ocon and Daniil Kvyat, will be replaced by International F3 on the support bill in 2019, with the championship’s new car having been unveiled in the paddock during the weekend.
