Rosberg ends season with hat-trick
ABU DHABI: Nico Rosberg completed a hat trick of victories to end the Formula One season when he won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, while his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton was left frustrated by a tire strategy which he believed cost him a shot at winning.
Rosberg won by 8.2 seconds at the Yas Marina circuit to complete Mercedes’ 12th one-two finish of the season, establishing a new F1 record.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was third, ahead of his teammate Sebastian Vettel, who drove impressively after starting 15th on the grid. Raikkonen’s podium secured him fourth in the drivers’ championship ahead of fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas.
Force India’s Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg finished fifth and seventh in Sunday’s race, separated by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.
Felipe Massa of Williams was eighth, Romain Grosjean ninth in his last race for Lotus before moving to 2016 newcomer Haas, and Daniil Kvyat of Red Bull took the last point in 10th.
Rosberg finished the season on a high, with three consecutive wins and six straight pole positions, but it came too late to prevent Hamilton taking his third drivers’ championship.
“I am excited about how the end of the season went,” Rosberg said. “Next year can come tomorrow for me, I don’t need any holidays. I’ll try and keep the current form going next year. I am sure the team will give us a great car once again.” FIA CLEARS FERRARI, NEW ENTRANT HAAS Formula One stewards have cleared Ferrari and 2016 entrant Haas of any breach of rules limiting aerodynamic testing.
Stewards at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix had been asked by Mercedes to clarify the rules due to fears that teams were skirting regulations that limit time spent in wind-tunnel testing and other aerodynamic development.
Mercedes did not directly accuse any team, but the complaint related to the close ties between Ferrari and U.S. team Haas. Ferrari, as a current competitor, was subject to testing restrictions, but Haas was not, because it enters F1 next year.
Stewards ruled Sunday that there is “no evidence that competitors have not complied” with the rules.