Simply Abu Dhabi XXIV

5 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Round 4 Russia: Kvyat was again in trouble for blocking, this time Vettel after he punted the Ferrari driver off on the first lap. It was the final straw for the team who swapped him with Max Verstappen from the Torro Rosso junior squad from the next race. Rosberg was out front again in what was becoming a common sight, taking an easy fourth race win from four starts. Starting from pole, he had an uneventful race while chaos reigned behind him. After the safety car, Rosberg led from Raikkonen. Hamilton made up places and was on Rosberg’s tail until he was ordered to slow due to a water pressure problem. Rosberg won by 25 seconds, extending his margin to 43 points. Driver: Rosberg 100, Hamilton 57, Raikkonen 43 Constructor: Mercedes 157, Ferrari 76, Red Bull 57 Round 5 Spain: After his promotion to Red Bull, F1’s wunderkind Max Verstappen pulled off the impossible by gambling on a risky tyre strategy to win and become F1’s youngest ever victor of a Grand Prix at 18. The Dutchman pounced after Rosberg and Hamilton retired, and while Ricciardo and Vettel stuck to a three-stop strategy, Max rolled the dice and made his tyres last longer. Hamilton started from pole but got away slower than Rosberg who had the jump into turn 1. Hamilton tried a desperate move down the inside, taking to the grass, losing control in front of Rosberg, crashing and ending both their races. Kimi’s second place allowed him to pass Hamilton in the championship. Driver: Rosberg 100 Raikkonen 61, Hamilton 57 Constructor: Mercedes 157, Ferrari 109, Red Bull 94 Round 6 Monaco: It was the one that got away for Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo; a second potential loss due to poor strategy from the Red Bull pits. The Aussie arrived for his final stop, holding a comfortable lead, only to find no tyres ready which handed certain victory to Hamilton. The wet and dry race around the Principality was a nailbiter after Ricciardo’s 13 second lead was erased and Hamilton took his first win of the year with a strong Sergio Perez for Force India finishing third and a struggling championship leader Rosberg in seventh. Driver: Rosberg 106, Hamilton 82, Ricciardo 66 Constructor: Mercedes 188, Ferrari 121, Red Bull 112