Sebastian Vettel topped of the driver of the weekend poll for the sixth time this season following his dominant drive to victory in Abu Dhabi. Vettel scooped more than twice the votes of anyone else.
A well-judged drive to sixth place on a one-stop strategy earned Paul di Resta enough votes for second in the poll, his second appearance inside the top three this season.
Third place marked Fernando Alonso’s ninth appearance in the top three this year, second only to the all-conquering Vettel.
1. Sebastian Vettel
Started: 2nd
Finished: 1st
Despite being edged to pole position by Mark Webber, Vettel took the lead on the run down to turn one and never looked back.
Vettel was so far ahead of his rivals he was, at stages, setting faster laps on worn tyres than his rivals were on fresh ones. Fastest lap slipped from his grasp however – Alonso claimed it after putting the soft tyres on late in the race.
Vettel celebrated his 11th win of the year with more doughnuts and a rather amusing post-race radio conversation.
Vettel by a mile, marginally off of pole position but embarrassed everybody in the race. His gap even after the first lap was incredible.
Douglas (@mwahahaha)
People forget “the weekend” runs from Friday to Sunday evening doughnuts. Vettel only made one mistake that whole time ?ǣ first corner of his final run in Q3. Even then, he was just 0.118sec behind Webber.
mda (@mda72)
He crushed everyone else. A bit of a mistake in qualifying, but he even apologised for that on the radio, and I would think his race performance more than made up for that.
On top of that, he gave me a good laugh when I saw the doughnuts and heard the radio exchange with Horner and Rocquelin. I hate that he makes winning look so easy, I hate that other teams can?t even come close to him; it?s hard not to like him once you see the funny, human side.
Before, I never said I was a fan of Vettel (not to be confused with hating him, but he wasn?t the one I was cheering on) but he?s won a fan in me.
Steven (@steevkay)
2. Paul di Resta
Started: 11th
Finished: 6th
Despite qualifying 12th – that became 11th due to Raikkonen’s exclusion – di Resta was upbeat ahead of the Grand Prix.
By the end of the opening lap the Force India driver was up to tenth and continued to make positions before and after his stop.
He executed a one-stop strategy brilliantly – Force India were the only team to make it work, doing so for both their drivers – holding off the faster Lewis Hamilton in the closing laps.
Paul di Resta is my driver of the weekend. He excellently executed one-stop strategy and managed to keep Hamilton behind in the final laps achieving the best possible result.
@Girts
I went for Di Resta because the “driver of the weekend” means putting everything together. Vettel was obviously unbeatable but Di Resta didn?t put a wheel wrong all weekend, and his race was magnificent, holding off Hamilton on 30-plus lap old tyres was very impressive.
Jack (@Jmc200)
3. Fernando Alonso
Started: 10th
Finished: 5th
Alonso was knocked out in Q2 for the first time this season however fought back during the race with some strong pace. His strategy came together in the final stint on the soft tyres despite an off-track excursion while passing Jean-Eric Vergne which left him with back pain but no penalty.
Went for Alonso for the fighting and getting a decent result in the end.
@MarcusAurelius
2013 Driver of the Weekend results
2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Image ?? Red Bull/Getty
Len (@lunara)
15th November 2013, 9:42
There wasn’t anyone else who deserved it more.
Diceman (@diceman)
15th November 2013, 9:46
I just don’t get why so many voted for Alonso. Rosberg had deserved the third place IMO.
BasCB (@bascb)
15th November 2013, 9:51
I am wondering about that as much as you are @diceman
mnmracer (@mnmracer)
15th November 2013, 12:25
Alonso has a big share of fans who believe he is DOTW for simply getting in the car.
celeste (@celeste)
15th November 2013, 23:12
xD
Juan Pablo Heidfeld (@juan-pablo-heidfeld-1)
15th November 2013, 10:14
I voted Rosberg, but if you only vote on the race (which some do) Alonso’s overtakes were one of the few exciting moments
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
15th November 2013, 12:02
I agree. Rosberg was the standout performance if you look beyond Vettel over the weekend.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
15th November 2013, 13:14
Agreed @diceman – he was almost outclassed by Massa, which is no achievement worthy of 3rd best driver.
Also, he made a mess of qualifying.
Retired (@jeff1s)
15th November 2013, 11:10
Di resta?! Seriously?!
Francorchamps (@francorchamps17)
15th November 2013, 11:53
Alonso??
This is “Driver of the WEEKEND”. He didn’t reach Q3, in the same time Massa was P7. Seriously…
Deej92 (@deej92)
15th November 2013, 12:28
That is probably the 2nd most undeserving top 3 placing of the year. 1st remains Raikkonen’s in Monaco.
Sri Harsha (@harsha)
15th November 2013, 13:01
I think Alonso 3rd place in DOTW in Silverstone also undeserving.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
15th November 2013, 13:15
He was worthy of second, but I don’t think Webber was at all worthy of first in Malaysia either.
Jelle van der Meer
15th November 2013, 17:09
Alonso always gets overrated with DotW, still shocked he won Belgium DotW despite making mistakes in Q3 and Vettel winning the race.
In 2012 he deserved sometimes DotW but in 2013 really not as much as he gets credit for.
Vettel wins 11 races and 13 front row starts yet ONLY 6 DotW. YES I know the argument he has the best car but still, look at Webber no wins and only 4 front row starts.
OmarR-Pepper (@)
15th November 2013, 14:34
@kethcollantine please, to avoid de “deserving” issues, can you implement a 3-2-1 points system for next year? thanks so much
OmarR-Pepper (@)
15th November 2013, 14:34
@keithcollantine please, to avoid de “deserving” issues, can you implement a 3-2-1 points system for next year? thanks so much
Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
15th November 2013, 15:00
Would be very much appreciated. It could be based on the prediction champ code, as this already count automatically the point in function of our prediction. Would have to be a bit modified to fit. I hope it could be done … But I understand it’s some more work and already plenty of things to do. Maybe could ask the help from fans ? I could do it for some languagess (usually not web related though)