From beginning to end, the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a lackluster affair, at least at the front where Lewis Hamilton led the race from start to finish. Hamilton eased his Mercedes to victory and in the process earned his 11th win of the season, despite only having 5 pole positions to his name. As dominant as his victory in Abu Dhabi was, Hamilton has had to work hard for the other 10 victories. During the early season, Valtteri Bottas raised his game and looked like a season long threat. Hamilton simply raised his game further and in the process made porridge out of Bottas. Then Ferrari surged, but Hamilton eventually overcame them.
Then Red Bull Honda surged, but Hamilton was up to the task of taking the fight to them. When he wasn’t winning he was always there or thereabouts, chalking up the points and podiums if victory wasn’t possible. And yet the end of season Grand Prix was how Mercedes started the first three races. Total domination. In the end, Red Bull tried their best but Hamilton was too quick on the day.
Valtteri Bottas was forced to start the race at the back of the field after accumulating engine penalties. But he made use of the advantage bequeathed to him by Mercedes and ended the race with a fighting 4th. Charles Leclerc retained 3rd after the FIA took no action relating to pre-race fuel irregularities. But in truth, Ferrari was no match for Mercedes. However, the 2019 Abu Dhabi race wasn’t short of entertainment.
Certainly, the mid-field battle was more intense with plenty of action to witness, as there always is. McLaren won the honors for 4th place in the constructor’s championship. But if they had retained the Honda works engine they could have won much more. Nevertheless, can anyone match Hamilton’s and Mercedes’s consistency in 2020?
With the rules and regulations stable for another season, it appears Mercedes will have a slight advantage for 2020. But Honda engine power could emerge as a credible threat to both Mercedes and Ferrari after a promising start with partners Red Bull.
2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/Retired | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 55 | 1:34:05.715 | 26 |
2 | 33 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda | 55 | +16.772s | 18 |
3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 55 | +43.435s | 15 |
4 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 55 | +44.379s | 12 |
5 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 55 | +64.357s | 10 |
6 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Red Bull Racing Honda | 55 | +69.205s | 8 |
7 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Racing Point BWT Mercedes | 54 | +1 lap | 6 |
8 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Renault | 54 | +1 lap | 4 |
9 | 26 | Daniil Kvyat | Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda | 54 | +1 lap | 2 |
10 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | McLaren Renault | 54 | +1 lap | 1 |
11 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Renault | 54 | +1 lap | 0 |
12 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault | 54 | +1 lap | 0 |
13 | 7 | Kimi Räikkönen | Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari | 54 | +1 lap | 0 |
14 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 54 | +1 lap | 0 |
15 | 8 | Romain Grosjean | Haas Ferrari | 54 | +1 lap | 0 |
16 | 99 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari | 54 | +1 lap | 0 |
17 | 63 | George Russell | Williams Mercedes | 54 | +1 lap | 0 |
18 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda | 53 | +2 laps | 0 |
19 | 88 | Robert Kubica | Williams Mercedes | 53 | +2 laps | 0 |
NC | 18 | Lance Stroll | Racing Point BWT Mercedes | 45 | DNF | 0 |
Note – Hamilton scored an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race.