2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Race Report

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi - 1 November 2009

Tough day-night race in Abu Dhabi draws curtain on 2009 season

The 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix gets underway

The first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit delivered a fitting end to the 2009 season – one which has been filled with controversy, action and technical innovation. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) drove yet another mature race to take victory from team mate Mark Webber and World Champion elect, Jenson Button of Brawn GP finishing in third.

Motor racing fans held their collective breath for the sport’s first ever day-night race, with many in the paddock proclaiming the venue as the ‘future of Formula One’. Kimi Räikkönen started the race from the sixth row of the grid, with Giancarlo Fisichella in 20th place. The race was always going to prove difficult, as the focus of the Scuderia’s attention has shifted to work on the 2010 car. Fisichella made his way through the field in the first half of the race, making up places on the drivers around him, while Räikkönen found himself in a battle with fellow Finn Heikki Kovalainen for much of the early stages of the race. Finishing in 12th and 16th, both drivers pushed hard all race, but were unable to make up ground on the cars ahead of them.

Richard Bracewell, Shell Global Sponsorships Manager, commented: “The race today was a tough one for the entire team, but it is a fair reflection of our season as a whole. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kimi for his three seasons at Ferrari, most notably his Championship victory in 2007. As he leaves Ferrari, we wish him all the best in the future. The Shell scientists are already working with the engineers at Maranello on the development of next year's car and we look forward to returning to the front of the grid in Bahrain in 2010.”

The results at Abu Dhabi confirms Jenson Button’s (Brawn GP) first ever Drivers’ World Championship with 95 points. Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel finished in second place with 84 points, ahead of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello on 77 points in third. Kimi Räikkönen finished the season in sixth place with 48 points and Felipe Massa remains on 22 points, all scored before his accident in Hungary.

Brawn GP complete the fairytale by winning the Constructors’ Championship in their first season with 172 points from Red Bull Racing on 153.5 points. Third place was taken by McLaren with 71 points, a single point ahead of Scuderia Ferrari on 70 and in fourth.

Selected comments from Scuderia Ferrari after the race:

Kimi Räikkönen ahead of his last Grand Prix wearing Ferrari colours.

Stefano Domenicali: “It’s disappointing to see third place in the Constructors’ Championship elude us by a single point, but we have to accept the verdict dished out on track. I wish to congratulate the entire team who, despite the difficult situation, continued to keep their concentration up, getting on with their work with determination and tenacity. Now we must continue to work on the design of the new car, because we have a very simple aim: that of getting back to being in the fight for race wins. This was Kimi’s last race with us and again today he gave it his all. We are very disappointed that this year, we did not give him a competitive car and I thank him for never having thrown in the towel, in fact, fighting even harder when the situation was at its trickiest. I am proud of our drivers, as I am of everyone who works in our team and I am sure that every one of them will know how to learn the right lessons from this season and will be even more motivated to try and redeem themselves immediately.”

Kimi Räikkönen: “We knew we did not have a car that was competitive here. It was definitely not a good weekend, but I don’t think any of us have anything to reproach ourselves for. We did the most we could with the package we had. It’s a shame to end my time with Ferrari with this result, but this year we have never been in a position to fight for the win at every race, as I would have wished.”

Giancarlo Fisichella: “I am disappointed that third place got away from us like this, but today our pace was what it was, as can be seen from my team-mate’s twelfth place. I tried all I could, as usual and I feel I drove a good race. It was a shame about the drive-through which compromised my second stint. Now the time has come to think of the future: I do not yet know if I will get a race drive with a team, but what is certain is that I will be a Ferrari driver and I am happy about that.”

Chris Dyer:  “It was a very disappointing day for us. We knew after the qualifying result that it would be very tough and so it turned out. It’s an unpleasant way to end our relationship with Kimi and we are very disappointed about it. It would have been nice to have given him a good result as a send off to thank him for everything we have done together over the past three years. We wish him all the best for the future, whatever he decides to do. He is an extraordinary driver and we will always have fond memories of him.”