Sebastian Vettel picked up the pieces of a devastating Saturday in Abu Dhabi by carving through the field to finish Sunday's spectacular grand prix in third place. Given his pitlane start, an extra pitstop for a twice-damaged front wing, and having to give back a place after overtaking off the Yas circuit, minimising his loss of points to championship rival Fernando Alonso was an impressive result for the Red Bull driver.
"There was the chance (this weekend) to f**k it up," the delighted Vettel told David Coulthard - who apologised for the double world champion's language - on the podium. Vettel, having started the race 13 points ahead of Ferrari's Spaniard Alonso, is now 10 points ahead with just one more back to back pairing of races in Austin and Interlagos now to run. "I told you guys," Vettel said on the radio after recovering his disastrous weekend, "don't stop believing."
Also still believing is Alonso, who uttered not a word to his title rival in the post-race podium preparation room, shook his trophy with determination a few minutes later, and cracked no smile when Vettel tipped champagne on Coulthard's head. "You can see he's pumped up," Red Bull boss Christian Horner told British Sky television. Alonso confirmed: "We keep fighting until the end."
Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen finally broke through to win a race in his F1 comeback, but the victory was helped along by pole sitter and runaway leader Lewis Hamilton's failure. (GMM)
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Vettel's lead down to 10 points after Abu Dhabi thriller
- Published on 05 Nov 2012 08:45
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
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- 1:18.159
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M. Verstappen
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A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
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G. Russell
- 1:16.445
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
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World Championship standings 2026
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 628
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 194
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 187,249 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Team profile
- Team name Lotus F1
- Base Enstone, United Kingdom
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Romain Grosjean 10
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 65,124 comments on Lotus F1
- 16 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Lotus F1
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