F1 GP Abu Dhabi: Bottas wins the last race of the year ahead of Hamilton

Valtteri Bottas he concluded the 1 F2017 World Championship on the top step of the podium, winning the Abu Dhabi GP ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari was fourth, ahead of Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Ocon, Alonso and Massa. The Finnish Mercedes driver maintained the lead of the race from pole position to the finish line, managing to maintain the gap against his British rival, who only got close, but not close enough, after the pit stop and towards the end of the race. Vettel's Ferrari, on the other hand, was far away, while Raikkonen held fast for all 55 laps, with Verstappen's Red Bull pressing behind him. Thanks to Hulkenberg, Renault overtakes Toro Rosso in the Constructors' Championship and takes sixth place. The 2017 season greets the fans with Lewis Hamilton World Champion ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas!

News – The air temperature was 31°C and the asphalt temperature was 24°C. Ultrasoft tire used for the top ten, new for riders up to 17th position, and supersoft for the last three on the grid. Bottas got away well and maintained pole position, with Hamilton, Vettel, and Ricciardo and Raikkonen fighting behind him. At the start Magnussen spins at the first corner and slips to the back of the group. There was an immediate battle between Hulkenberg and the Force Indias, but the German held onto the square. On lap 1, Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Hulkenberg Perez, Ocon, who overtook Massa, and then Alonso. Vandoorne slipped to 15th. Hulkenberg cuts a chicane and takes advantage of Perez who had overtaken him in the meantime. The accident is investigated and the German gets a 5 second penalty. Verstappen immediately goes after Raikkonen. Massa, Alonso and Sainz will be fighting for tenth place, while Grosjean and Stroll will battle it out for many laps for 13th place, with the Canadian intent on tenaciously defending his position.

On lap 11 Bottas is in the lead with a 2s lead over Hamilton, followed by Vettel at 3.2s. So Ricciardo, Kimi, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Ocon, Massa and Alonso. The first to stop is Stroll, after being overtaken by Grosjean. On lap 15 Verstappen also returns and immediately after it's Raikkonen's turn, who returns ahead of the Red Bull. The pit stops continue with Perez, Hulkenberg and Ricciardo. The Australian hits a curb and stops due to a suspected puncture. Grosjean snatches 11th place from Hulkenberg. On lap 21 Vettel in the pits. Meanwhile, Ricciardo parks in the grass due to a hydraulic leak and thus ends the season. On lap 22 Bottas also stopped and Hamilton took the lead, to pit three laps later.

On lap 26: Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel, Kimi, Verstappen, Ocon, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Perez and Grosjean. Hamilton blocks and loses ground to his teammate. On lap 32 pit stops for Ocon and Sainz; but the Spaniard's Renault was sent back onto the track with the right front tire badly fixed, and shortly after returning to the track he was forced to park in the grass and retire. On lap 36 all the riders made at least one stop (two only for Stroll): Wehrlein, Hartley, Ericsson and Stroll were on ultrasoft tyres, all the others were on supersoft tyres. Hamilton is 1.4s behind Bottas. Magnussen, Wehrlein and Hartley are protagonists of a tight fight for 13th place. With just over ten laps to go, Bottas continues in the lead with a gap of 1.2s on Hamilton. Vettel is third at 20s, while there are 3.2s between Raikkonen and Verstappen. On lap 47, Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel, Kimi, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Ocon, Alonso and Massa. Hamilton gets close to Bottas but progressively gains and loses ground as the end approaches... And Vettel sets the GPV, 1:41.244.

The final lap begins, the Mercedes Finn resists... The checkered flag waves in Abu Dhabi and gives the last GP of the year to Valtteri Bottas, ahead of Hamilton and Vettel!

F1 GP Abu Dhabi – Times, results and laps Race