Hamilton dominant in desert to cap super season
Lewis Hamilton ended his near-perfect 2018 with a typically assured victory in Sunday’s eventful season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on an emotional day at the Yas Marina Circuit.
The 33-year-old Briton, who reeled off the 11th win of a dominant campaign that brought him his fifth drivers’ world championship ahead of Sebastian Vettel, showed off his tattooed torso on the podium amid goodbyes for former foe Fernando Alonso, who retired from F1 after 17 years and 311 GPs.
“I really wanted to end the season strong,” said Hamilton, who won the F1 championship last month in Mexico.
“The team did an exceptional job all year long, and I really wanted to deliver for them and wanted to end the way that I plan to start next year. That was kind of the new psyche.”
Hamilton’s latest win came after Nico Hulkenberg survived a spectacular crash on the opening lap — escaping unhurt as flames licked around him while he hung on the barriers “like a cow” in his upside-down Renault.
Hulkenberg smiled as he recalled the experience of hanging in his car while “the barbecue was lit” behind him.
The German driver’s accident led to a Safety Car intervention, but neither that nor the later deployment of a Virtual Safety Car could stop Hamilton from triumphing.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said that it was important for the team to maintain impetus as it targets a record sixth consecutive double of driver and team world titles next year. Ferrari is the only other team to have five doubles (from 2000-04).
“It was a great fight this season with Ferrari, and then Red Bull came into the mix and there were six cars able to win — that’s why the television ratings increased.”
Formula One’s American owners Liberty Media appreciated that and the special moment after Sunday’s race when multiple champions Hamilton (five titles), Vettel (four) and Alonso (two) performed donut spins in their cars during a postrace slow-down lap dedicated to the retiring Spanish driver.
Hamilton also had warm words for runner-up Vettel. “It’s been a real honor and a privilege racing against Sebastian,” he said. “I’ve known him since our Formula Three days and he’s an honest driver who has always raced his heart out. I know he’s going to come back strong next year.”
Vettel, whose season was punctuated by costly errors, said: “I think I need some time for myself. It’s been a difficult and exhausting year for me. I definitely need a bit of a gap.”
celebrates winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.