Blown tire

Lewis Hamilton produced a near-flawless performance on Sunday when he took full advantage of the early retirement of defending champion Sebastian Vettel to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"A mega-job, mega, as always," said Hamilton on team radio at the conclusion of the race.

Driving his McLaren with measured assurance and great speed, the 26-year-old Englishman dominated from the second corner of the opening lap to the finish as he claimed his third win of a troubled season and 17th of his career.

Hamilton started second, but took the lead within a few hundred meters when 24-year-old German Vettel's Red Bull suffered a puncture to his right-rear tire and forced him to swerve off the Yas Marina circuit. Sunday marked the first time Vettel failed to finish a race this year.

"It was like a hit. I tried to rescue the car, but couldn't do anything. I thought I could bring back the car [to the pits] but the tire tore apart and the suspension was also damaged," Vettel said afterwards.

Record-equaling weekend

Vettel's blown tire was a shot to an otherwise successful weekend for the young German. His 14th pole matched the record of Nigel Mansell set in 1992.

After Vettel finished his last lap in qualifying, clocking 1 minute, 38.481 seconds, the team yelled over the radio "Brilliant, Mr. Mansell," to which the German responded "Ich liebe dich" or "I love you."

"I was very happy to get pole because it was difficult. We weren't sure about it and positively surprised when we crossed the line," Vettel said, adding that Mansell's record wasn't something the team had discussed."

Vettel will have the chance to break Mansell's record at the final race of the season in Sao Paulo on November 27.

Author: Gabriel Borrud (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Andreas Illmer