Hulk pulled from wreckage as Lewis sails home
LEWIS HAMILTON messed about making videos with Hollywood star Will Smith but still ended up winning in Abu Dhabi.
But the season-ender at the Yas Marina circuit was no laughing matter for Nico Hulkenberg.
The German walked away unscathed despite being trapped when his Renault caught fire in an opening-lap collision with Romain Grosjean.
That saw him somersault and land the wrong way up and against the tyre barriers.
Flames billowed from the back as Hulkenberg realised he was unable to get out.
“I’m hanging like a cow,” said the panicked driver, 31, over the radio. “Get me out. There is fire.”
Television showed singers Sam Smith and Geri Horner in shock as they watched from the Red Bull garage. Smith held his hand over his mouth as marshals dashed to the scene and, after more than three minutes, flipped the German’s car back on to four wheels.
Hulkenberg was shaken but unharmed.
He said: “It was not the most comfortable situation to be in.
“There was a little barbecue at the back, so I just wanted to get out. You feel pretty helpless.”
Crowned
Until then, the final race of a season that began in Melbourne more than nine months ago felt like the last day of a school term.
Hamilton, already crowned world champion, was “taken hostage” by Will Smith in a video posted on social media before the race.
But when the polesitter did take to his Mercedes, he could not be stopped.
Hamilton’s win, his eighth in his last 11 appearances, saw him become the first driver to break the 400-point barrier.
He ends the year 88 points clear of Sebastian Vettel, who finished second in this one, and 161 ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third.
“It has been an unconventional weekend,” said Hamilton.
“Will Smith is the original hype man and brings a lot of energy. He is like a big brother to me.
“We were filming with him 10 minutes before I got in the car, which I never do because that is the period of time where I’m usually getting ready. But I got a great start and then after that it was standard. I expected nothing but perfection.”
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, competing in his 312th and final race before he heads for retirement, finished outside the top 10.
Urged by his McLaren team to chase the one point available for 10th, he said: “I have 1,800 points in my career.”
“Well, for me, make it 1,801 points,” pleaded Alonso’s race engineer Will Joseph.
The Spaniard was unable to do so, coming in 11th.
Horror of stars: Page 17