Vettel Embarrasses The Abu Dhabi F1 Grid To Take Seventh Consecutive Win

Image source: Getty Images

Yes, he has done it again. Hot off the back of his championship crowning in India, Sebastian Vettel took his seventh consecutive victory and 11th win of the 2013 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The German driver didn't start the race from pole position after team-mate Mark Webber set the pace in qualifying. However, it was business as usual at the first corner after a slow getaway from the grid by Webber. Vettel moved into the lead at turn one and remained unchallenged to the chequered flag.

Image source: Getty Images

It was another dominant showing from the four-time champion with a near perfect race that saw him win by over 30 seconds. Team-mate Webber finished in second place to take Red Bull's third 1-2 of the year. Rosberg finished where he started in third place.

Lotus suffered a mixed race with Romain Grosjean impressing once again to finish in fourth place. However, team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was excluded from qualifying after failing a floor deflection test. The 'Iceman' started from the back of the grid but hit the Caterham of Giedo van der Garde at turn one, damaging his car and taking him out of the race.

Image source: Lotus F1 Team

Fernando Alonso had a woeful qualifying session and started the race from 10th place. He attempted a one-stop strategy but it was never going to work. A late switch to the soft compound tyre at his second stop gave him the advantage in the final stint, helping him to pass Hamilton and di Resta to finish in fifth place.

Image source: Sahara Force India F1 Team

Paul di Resta finished in sixth and was one of two drivers who managed to pull off a one-stop race. Hamilton lost a considerable amount of time in traffic and eventually dropped to seventh, just ahead of Massa. Sergio Perez took ninth from Adrian Sutil on the final lap to take McLaren's only points of the race.

Jenson Button had a difficult race after damaging his front wing on the first lap for the second consecutive race. He could only recover to 12th place. Nico Hulkenberg was handed a drive-through penalty for an unsafe release from his pit box, dropping him down the order.

Image source: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

After a two week break, Formula 1 will head to Austin, Texas, for the United States Grand Prix and the penultimate round of the 2013 season. Can Vettel make it eight in a row? Most likely.