The first ever Abu Dhabi GP didn’t really live up to all of the off-track bluster once the race actually got going, until about two laps to go when Jenson Button got close enough to second place man Mark Webber for a bit of an on-the-edge ding-dong.
Jenson had been closing Mark down for quite a few laps, and it looked like he had the speed to overtake him on the final lap of the race, but Webber defended well and held the Briton at bay to take second at the flag, behind teammate Sebastian Vettel – who’s now the second placed man in the World Drivers’ Championship.
Lewis Hamilton didn’t run away from pole position at the start like some people had predicted, and eventually retired with a mechanical problem – a first for him in his F1 career.
After the demise of Hamilton, Vettel drove a commanding race from the front, summing up a great season for him with Red Bull Racing.
The most impressive drive of the day however must surely go to Toyota rookie Kamui Kobayashi, who finished a strong sixth and has surely done enough to secure himself with a drive for the Japanese team next year – assuming they stay in F1.
Check BBC Sport for the full results and let us know what you thought of the inaugural Ab Dhabi GP.
Oh, and come back tomorrow, when we’ll be having a look back across the season.
BRILLIANT RACE
last lap was fantastic! unfortunate for Hamliton though…:(
yes, 1st comment, anyway very nice race, hamilton was very unlucky, vettel was flawless, and the last few laps battle of webber and butoon was amasing to watch. Kobayashi was good 6th in 2nd GP, AND beating his team-mate, this boy’ll go far methinks. Very goodand special season, can’t wait till next.
ALONSO vs. MASSA vs. HAMILTON vs. RAIKONEN vs. BUTTON vs. VETTEL vs. WEBBER
Eddie jordan no poppy, why?
Vettel and Koboyashi: Brilliant!!
crap I just remembered that since its all over I’ve got nothing to watch till Christmas. OH WAIT, TOP GEAR!!!
This Kobayashi-san is really on to something. Probably my new favourite driver.
I feel sorry for Lewis though. He was having a good chance in the last race to show the world he´s still the best in the world.
Next year´s going to be awesome.
Kobayashi the Kamikazi is something else, I do hope Toyota keeps him, Vettel simply had no competition, nice race anyway
It was an OK race, nothing special until Button remembered that his car was good on the final few laps. I liked how, whenever there was a lull in the race, the cameras cut to Naomi Campbell and/or Nicole Scherzinger, the latter seeming increasingly oblivious to her boyfriend’s race going down the swannee…
also KOBAYASHI FTW or something…
@ 4 John, Eddie Jordan’s Irish, so he has no reason to wear a poppy for British troops.
Anyway, surprisingly good race, I was expecting a bore but this track has been a surprise. Well done, great last lap and Kobayashi is certainly someone to watch.
Bring on next year!
Its been an amazing season and Abu Dhabi Provided it with a suitably epic ending. Red Bull have really matured this season and were a very competitive team while Brawn defied everything to come to the top and together with Red Bull have set a new order for F1 teams and the “old guard” of Ferrari, Mclaren et al are going to be having some serious meetings this winter. The BBC coverage was really great this year too. JB and Kobayashi at Brawn next year anyone?
I agree the race was pretty stale until the last few laps. Unfortunate for Lewis that was shaping up to be a good battle.
Good to see JB and MW having a bit of a chat afterwards, rare these days, however Vettel was still his sour self.
@John I do believe that Eddie was wearing a Help for Heroes wristband, it is not mandatory to wear a poppy
Just becuase you don’t where one doesn’t mean you don’t remember 
I’ve been saying it since Brazil, Koboyashi is a future star – he’s made Button look pretty ordinairy during a couple of encounters now (fair enough, Button had just fuelled and Koboyashi was lighter this time but still, he looked great throughout)
Well that wasn’t quite the blast I was hoping for, and what a shame for dominant Lewis Hamilton. That was going to be his race. Kobayashi was doing extremely well, overtaking Button like he did and finishing 6th in only his second F1 race.
Button v Webber was certainly a nailbiting showdown. F1 needs more battles like that. If it started a lap or two earlier, people may even have uttered the words “Villeneuve and Arnoux”. Which would’ve been annoying, actually.
The track needs editing though. Turn 6, just before the immense back straight, is a fiddly little chicane with one clean line (they also need to find a way of removing or keeping out all that dust). There’s an escape road there that cuts said chicane. I think that should be used as track instead. That way there’s just one easy corner that I think would see many, many more overtakes than the fiddly, slippery way. The exit of the left turn just after going under the Yas Hotel could be wider and/or more curved too. They were all on the blue paint every lap. Still, a spectacular setting, love those LEDs on the hotel.
A decent end to a very different season. Roll on 2010! I wonder how no refuelling will affect things…
It was an amazing race, I am really impressed with the circuit.
@ r50mini HOW WAS VETTEL SOUR!? he was so happy after winning, did you not here the team radio? In the press conference he said all the right things, the team were very good but made small problems which need to be fixed.
@rookiemonster that’s exactly what I was thinking after brazil, I’m telling you he’ll go far, I know its to early to tell but he has some Schumacher about him. i.e. didn’t look all that amasing in the lesser categories of motorsport, but then pop him in an F1 car and off he goes!
that race was so boring. i just looked up Ratchet & Clank on the internet instead. much more interesting.
yay 18th comment.
Kobayashi a future star? Maybe, lets see its way too early to tell by few good moves. Admit that he looks way better then Alguersuari, Grosjean who both showed disappointing races – Buemi is a high potential as well. I would give out the rookie of the year award to one of them. Comparing Kobayashi to Schumacher? That´s a real stretch…. don´t think so at all.
Vettel has arrived on world champion level – playing in the 1st league where I see 3 pilots right now – Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel – in this order.
All are not only fast but excellent with the team, development and race intelligence.
@ travelgeek wasn’t saying he was the new schumacher just noticing the fact that he’s much better in an f1 car than he was in GP2
So is Kimi done with F1???
Looks like he’s gonna swap places with Sebastian Loeb!
Kobayashi, you didn’t get a podium, but you did very well and earned more points than Nakajima in one race, than he did for the whole season. Great job. You should be proud of yourself. Great Job!!! Driver of the day!
do any of the brits speak a foreign language.the other drivers are all very well educated.
This is why I find it hard to warm to Jenson Button (as he refers to Sebastian Vettel):
“When I was 22 I was nowhere near as good as I am now,” Button, 29, told the newspaper.
“I was not necessarily slower, but you’re not as smart. I think we saw that with Sebastian. He made enough mistakes to help me out.”
The Brawn driver insists he is not being overly critical of Vettel.
“He is good; very good for his age. But we have seen that he still has a lot to learn,” said Button. “Over the whole season he was not consistent enough.”
Patronising much?!! Yes, Seb made mistakes this year(+ much more bad luck than JB)which might have cost him the championship but the point is, at 22 he is ALREADY better than JB is now.
it was so close at the end i wanted jenson to get past it was so close. so sorry for lewis he had to retire because of his brakes. but still a great race. ^_^
just to chip in, personally i think it was pretty obvious Hamilton was either going to have a poor race or not finish at all. I could tell this even before the race started.
My reason? well, answer me this, who interviewed him on his routine pitwalk before each race?
yes, looks like the Martin Brundle curse is still as strong as ever.
anyway, looking forward to next season. Will be supporting Hamilton all the way and gna be great seeing Alonso fighting at the front again
This must be, along with Valencia & Singapore the most BORING BORING BORING RACE EVER.
Here’s some advice for the Saudi’s: big hotels and overdone tracks don’t make beautiful racing. So stick all that money where the sun doesn’t shine and Mr. Ecclestone, let racing be where it belongs: On tracks like Nurburgring, Spa, Silverston, Suzuka, Monza en those things.
Jezus Christ.
boring
Absolutely agree – Boring. The new circuits are completely devoid of any character. NASCAR with a few more turns. At least most of the European tracks have hills and interesting surroundings to pass the time. Today I thought I was watching a live version of an X Box/PS game. The processional racing does not help either.
Oh for the glorious days of Fangio, Gonzalez, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart et al. Real drivers, in real cars on real tracks. Same speeds, more risks (often fatal)with overtaking too!
it was good hamiltons fault was totaly crap unlucky 4 brawn
@R8- Best Diesel Ever said
ok point taken – I also agree that he is the most impressive japanese driver I have seen so far
Looks like Kobayashi’s drive may have saved Toyota. Great battle between Button and Webber as well!
@29: yes
this season was beyond boring indeed. but Webber’s and Button’s fight at the very last laps was something really wow…ish. it reminded me a bit of Arnoux vs Villeneuve chase back in ‘79, just not as good as though
@travelgeek. how are alonso, hamilton, vettel the only 3 world champ drivers? granted button was just lucky but are you not forgetting kubica and massa? they are definitely up there with the other 3 if not even better
Oh crikey, fell asleep around lap 5, and only woke up again a minute ago….
Thanks for ruining my Sunday again mr. Tilke !!
My guess is that a Merc engineer tamppered with Lewis’s right rear brake cuz he was doing better than the Brawns and since Mercedes are betraying Mclaren 2 buy out most of Brawn, they didnt want 2 be embaressed, still good race the track itself is actually quite uneventful, it was just the Japanesse bloke that has a name i cant spell (begins with a K), and Jenson and Mark that made it entertaning
i agree with 26. stupid Martin Brundle lol, or its cuz of what i said above ^
it is an awesome race track a mix up of great courners may not be a great race track to watch for u guys but imagine how great it would be to actully race there twas an amazing race u guys saying its crap SHUTUP twas amazing
i have to say that the whole track looked a bit like a parking lot, with all the lights and lack of folliage. i think the track layout is great but it really is more of the the scenery they built around it that puts me off. had the track been built in a wooded area, people probably wouldn’t be complaining as much.
that said, what an amazing few laps at the end by button and webber. too bad hamilton had the brake problems
world champ Jenson butthole was rubbish.He was again bitch slapped by kamui kobayashi in the toyota and couldn’t closeout webber .
he should thank Hamilton for the retirement which promoted him to a podium finish .
Jenson keeps on whining about the hard compounds, but GUESS WHAT… Next year with heavier fuel loads the tires will be harder for the longer stints.
And Dubai showed again Kamui has a better overtaking skill than the World Champion Jenson Button… AND KOBAYASHI IS ONLY IN HIS 2ND RACE. I’m not saying Kamui is better but… if your WORLD champion in F1 you better show its because of you and not just because of Ross Brawn.
I feel sorry for Trulli; being outperformed by Kobayashi now. Wonder what the Toyota board is thinking now.
Kobayashi for 2010 Drivers’ Champion!
@ginger (comment 40): no, it wasn’t. End of discussion.
@ Jeroen: Try to support Kobayashi if he’s around next year then.
Boring race as per usual added to which we have to listen to that idiot who talks utter rubbish Jonathan Legard. God praying they get rid of him and replace him with someone like DC who actually has something useful to say.
@49: Totally agree re. Legard – i’m sure even Brundle gets pissed-off with him because he sometimes ignores Legard’s inane questions.
WHAT AM I READING
Vettel sangat kern pada balapan kemarin.
Kobayasi is very best. Sekali kali ngadain balapan F1 di Sentul circuit Indonesia.
Bit confused about people saying Kobayashi is better overtaker than button. 1 easy pass on a guy who’s just been fuelled to the brim and on tyres not yet rubbered in, against buttons countless overtakes this year…? He’s been the only frontrunner I can remember actually having to pass someone this year, and he did it several times very well. I also won’t jump the gun on Kobayashi before we see how quick the other 15 gp2 guys who are quicker than him in f1!!
Was a great location, great new track but not a great race until Jenson tapped Mark at the end. Shame about Lewis would have still been close with Sebastian if his car not had that fault.
Hope Beeb lose Uncle Eddie for next season, Jake’s car driving efforts were scary ( help from The Stig ) and DC was .. DC!
excellent race, brilliant venue to cap of an equal season. Kobayashi is defintley a great find, looking forward to see him next season. Will try to attend this one next year!
Fantastic race!!! Loved the battle with Mark and Jensen!!! Already looking forward to next year!!!
With no refuelling next year, it should be more exciting because more of the emphasis will be put on the driver’s skill and a little less on how good the car is.
It will be interesting to see how Lewis gets on because he’s notoriousley hard on tyres but then again, his handling skills are better than most with a heavily-fuelled car.
I was stunned bu Kobayashi! Is he brilliant or what?! I do hope toyota will keep him along with Trulli
Great track, nice race. Vettel should stop this act with his finger after a win, too German for my taste.
Thanks BBC for bringing F1 back to the continent, ITV wasn’t broadcasted in NL so ThanksThanksThanks!
Does anyone else thinks that Toyota is lacking pace because they have mid-field or rather weak drivers?
Not a single driver who has been driving for them hasnt showed any spectacular results. They have money and experience – why dont have the pace? im thinking that because of the drivers.
If Kobayashi shows rear to Trulli in his first races it means that Trully is weak.
I can olnly imagine if drivers like Vettel, Button, Raikkonen or Alonso will drive for them – definately they will step up few places.
58 (reason) i kinda agree with you.. I mean after the first few races toyota def. lacked the speed of the brawns, mclaren and redbull. But did you see kobayashi yesterday. he was lapping the same lap times as vettel and one point even set the fastest lap time. WHen has jarno, glock or any other drivers for toyota ever done tat mid race. As far as i can remember none. MR K did it.. and in race 2 in F1. And the other thing. The toyota Pit crew said MR K was complaining of front understeer.. BUt he adapted and again was putting preety good lap times. if that was trulli. he wud jus accepted it, the car was preety undrivable. i cudnt drive the car.. Change TRulli and Glock. Give MR K a chance. he rightfully deserves it.
2010 cant come sooner!!!!! Only 131 days until practice 1 for bahrain! Barrichello 2 williams. Life will be a bore until f1 returns
what did i tell you lot,ken block should be button’s team mate at brawn nest year or he drives for usf1 alongside scott speed or danica patrick or dario franchitti,i hope so
that was mine above
sorry about nest,it should be next
Scott speed for USF1…you want them to win right? not with that idiot driving they wont.
it wasnt as exciting as i had expected…in fact the only reason it was exciting was lewis…and then he popped out…jenson wasnt much fun to watch either(in this race)….overall id rather watch the Brazilian GP
and kobayashi is a surprisingly good driver!…but im not a fan
67th comment wooooooohhhhhhoooooo
hame for hammond and great finish from button
Yep, great track, really overshadowed the racing, great fight between Webber and Button. How good was Kobayashi!? Ace.
I really hope Webber doesn’t get fined for his donut, if I were in charge doing a donut at the end of a race would be compulsory
kobayashi- brill
button & webber-great fight
vettel-next years world champ
yas hotel-nice
track-boring
race-boring
i’d luv to do a donut in an f1 car
i hope he doesnt get fined d’.'b
~
I’ve started not to like Kobyashi already, he’s tried to take a podium and Championship (remember Brazil 2 weeks ago) from Button. Still great drive from him and Vettel, Could Hamilton have held Vettel up to the end if he didn’t have the break problem. (Answer = yes)
Kobayashi is on my watch list for sure, very impressive start to his F1 career.
Well deserved win for Vettel and great drive by Webs & Jens.
Track was visually stunning.
Not as brilliant racing as teh vintage tracks (Spa for example) but probably the first Tilke design in a long time with potential.
“I’ve started not to like Kobyashi already.”
LOL OH WOW
Go watch NASCAR if you want boring racing. You and your kin won’t be missed. Kobayash is the only pilot making the last to races of Brazil GP and Dubai GP exciting to watch.
Koba might well have to go back his father’s restaurant to work as Toyota does seem to quit.
The 2009 rulechanges did a great thing!
Lost Honda, Bmw and likely oyota, thanks to Kers and crazy aero rule changes which made the cars to ugly to sell advert anymore! No banks No tobacco No carmakers anymore. 2010 might become a poor season.
GP2 like, only the GP2 cars look way better!
great race no doubt about that but Hamilton should have won easy. it hasnt been a very good season for him even though he has had a few wins. if he hadnt had a bad car at the start of the seasons he’d have had a great chance of been a championship contender and a serious threat to button but, its all over now and next seasons here soon and im sure hell do better next season
This season was a result of mistakes in rule changing.
Kers was a failure and made Bmw and Honda decide to quit. Money burning nonsense, only McLaren made it work, such a prove that they are the best and only true F1 raceteam out there!
The diffuser story made the ugly wings useless as overtaking still was as difficult as it was during 2008.
The teams were messed by the Fia, hope Todt will do a better job but for some teams it will be too late, fear Renault and Toyota also won’t make the grid next year, can’t blame them.
other than the refueling ban, are there any other big changes for 2010?
What do we think of them?
They should change the wing dims back to 08 spec.
Refueling ban seems good, there was better racing be4 1994.
KUBICA VERY, VERY GOOG ANd WINNER TO FINISH CLASYFICATION