Ten of the best pictures which tell the story of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
Max Chilton, Friday practice
Max Chilton’s Marussia is dwarfed by the scale of Yas Marina’s architecture as he makes his first appearance at an official F1 practice session.
“I have been looking forward to this opportunity for a few weeks now,” he said afterwards, “but when the moment came – with all the pressure – I admit that I was a little nervous. I wanted everything to go well and to have as much track time as possible.”
Bruno Senna, Friday practice
As usual Bruno Senna only ran in the second practice session on Friday as Valtteri Bottas was given his car for the first one. Despite a tangle at the first corner with Nico Hulkenberg he reached the points for the ninth time this year.
Nico Rosberg, Friday practice
Nico Rosberg was pleased with his car on Friday and split the Ferraris in qualifying the next day.
But misfortune struck again on Sunday – he suffered a huge crash when Narain Karthikeyan slowed in front of him due to a hydraulic failure. Fortunately both were unhurt.
Sebastian Vettel, qualifying
Sebastian Vettel hurriedly stopped his car after being told to by Guillaume Rocquelin at the end of qualifying. Staring at his RB8, he must have suspected the mystery stoppage was going to lead to a penalty, and who knew what damage it might do to his championship lead.
Kamui Kobayashi, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Sauber mechanics push Kamui Kobayashi’s car onto the grid ahead of the start of the race.
Kobayashi was passed by the other Sauber of Sergio Perez early on. But while his team mate’s race was spoiled by a penalty for a collision, Kobayashi came in sixth and is now just eight points behind his team mate in the drivers’ championship.
Start, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
As the field rush into turn one Vettel and Pedro de la Rosa are waiting to be given their starting orders in the pit lane.
Lewis Hamilton, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
For the second time this year Lewis Hamilton trudged back to the pits, his car having failed him while leading. He has just two races left at McLaren.
Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Vettel’s progress through the field was quick enough for him to be within sight of Fernando Alonso in the closing stages. But he had to pass Jenson Button first – a task which consumed several laps while Alonso went after leader Kimi Raikkonen.
Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Alonso pulled up beneath the podium after the race but can’t have been pleased to see Vettel arrive there too, which meant he’d taken just three points off his championship rival.
Kimi Raikkonen, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Kimi Raikkonen may have dropped out of the championship running but he swept in to claim his first victory since returning to Formula One – and could yet have a role to play in determining the destiny of this year’s title.
More Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pictures
- 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Thursday pictures
- 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix practice in pictures
- 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying in pictures
- 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures
Share your Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pictures and video
Were you at Yas Marina last weekend? Share your pictures and video from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix here:
Images © Marussia, Williams/LAT, Mercedes/Hoch Zwei, Red Bull/Getty images, Sauber F1 Team, HRT F1 Team, McLaren/LAT, Red Bull/Getty images, Ferrari/Ercole Colombo, Lotus F1 Team/LAT
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
6th November 2012, 15:24
That first picture. What a surreal and ridiculous mounstrosity ! It’s so cool that somehow it isn’t.
xbx-117 (@xbx-117)
6th November 2012, 15:57
I think it’s brilliant.
Bleeps_and_Tweaks (@bleeps_and_tweaks)
6th November 2012, 20:54
Hmmm, I agree. That angle makes it look so different from the TV coverage. It looks pretty ridiculous in this picture to be honest and not very attractive at all.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
7th November 2012, 3:14
@bleeps_and_tweaks I don’t like it either. Some of the pictures are cool, you know, the hotel in the background with all the lights and colours. But it’s not a pretty thing, really.
lucho19 (@lucho19)
7th November 2012, 5:07
Yep. It kind of looks ordinary (compared to the ones taken at nighttime with all the colorful lights.) but I am sure it is impressive.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
8th November 2012, 19:35
I love it @fer-no65 I think the whole place looks out of this world.
Mallesh Magdum (@malleshmagdum)
6th November 2012, 15:39
@keithcollantine I think “Yas Hotel’ will be more apt for the first picture. The marina area isnt visible in the picture
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th November 2012, 17:48
Yas Marina is the name of the circuit.
Warren2185 (@warren2185)
6th November 2012, 18:15
“architecture” usually refers to buildings, not tracks.
sumedhvidwans (@sumedhvidwans)
6th November 2012, 15:43
I think first time I am liking the pictures of the drivers than the pictures of the cars.
Vettel looking downcast, Hamilton walking back, Kimi with his arms out-stretched – great pics.
MJ4
6th November 2012, 16:59
Of Vettel and his car at the end of qualifying, I liked the picture of him sitting on the car better.
Mike (@mike)
6th November 2012, 16:06
Wow. Amazing pictures.
verstappen (@verstappen)
6th November 2012, 21:14
As always!
Rosberg, Vettel after qualifying and blurred Alonso with Vettel and Button in the back are my favs
Douglas6250 (@douglas6250)
6th November 2012, 21:58
Thanks so much Keith. These have to be one of the best set yet ! I particularly loved the one with Vettel staring at his RB8. That is a class pic ! Looks more like an official PR photo than one that would show Vettel’s dissapointments !
Dj xo2 (@dj-xo2)
6th November 2012, 23:24
Kobayashi pic looks like the the CGI/video game art, imitating life, imitating art
Gabriel (@naylamp)
7th November 2012, 2:04
I was about to say the same.
just.daz (@nemo87)
7th November 2012, 0:43
Where did the flexi wing thread go..?
Gabriel (@naylamp)
7th November 2012, 2:08
Yeah, I wanted to know if someone had explained it better and … puff. It just disappeared.
Dave (@drummerdave)
7th November 2012, 8:42
I wondered the same, was interested in peoples opinions of this redbull flexing nose GIF
http://www.gaiaconscience.com/img/trucorb2.gif
Tim RBR (@tim-rbr)
7th November 2012, 12:42
Isn’t Vettel the first F1 champion to be in position to set a record of 3 consecutive WDC sequence including his initial tittle?
I know Schumacher has a 5 titles sequence, but it’s his seconde sequence after beeing F1 champion. And Fangio has a 4 titles sequence but it doesn’t include his first title.