Abu Dhabi: World champion Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in dominant fashion Sunday to clinch a seventh straight victory and 11th of the season.
Although the German had already clinched his fourth consecutive world title at the Indian GP last weekend, he pledged there would be no let up and he proved that beyond any doubt.
Starting from second on the grid, Vettel overtook his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber on the first turn and was untroubled after that. He beat second-placed Webber by 30.8 seconds and Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg by 33.6 seconds. Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was fourth and two-time former champion Fernando Alonso finished fifth - although stewards were investigating the Spaniard for a passing move on Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne late on.
Vettel now has 37 career race wins and, with two races left, can still match Michael Schumacher's single-season record of 13 wins in 2004. Schumacher also won 11 races in 2002.
"That was a champion's drive," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Vettel over the car radio, with the German driver responding with his trademark high-pitched whooping sound.
"It's not often you get to drive a car like this. I love you guys, thank you," Vettel said before climbing out of his car and hugging his waiting parents.
Just like last weekend, Vettel celebrated the win with a few screeching doughnuts on the Yas Marina circuit. He was fined last time, but is unlikely to care too much as he has other things to focus on.
He will look to match Schumacher's record with wins at the United States Grand Prix in two weeks' time and the season-ending Brazilian GP a week later.
Webber's last win was at the British GP in July last year and the 37-year-old never looked like making it 10 career wins.
The Australian has never been known for his pure speed and made a poor start, allowing Vettel to pass him on the outside on turn one as Rosberg came up from fifth to second.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton went the other way, dropping from fourth to fifth as Grosjean got ahead of him.
Force India driver Paul di Resta finished sixth ahead of Hamilton and Ferrari's Felipe Massa.
Because qualifying and the race itself are held at twilight, the track is considerably cooler allowing drivers to avoid the stifling daytime heat.
Before the race started Hamilton experienced problems with his rear right brake, prompting a flurry of activity from Mercedes mechanics.
But Kimi Raikkonen's day proved even more difficult with the Finn retiring on lap one with suspension damage.
"The Caterham only touched a little bit the front wheel, but the angle was so bad it damaged my suspension," Raikkonen said.
The 2007 world champion threatened not to race at all because Lotus has not paid his wages all year. Then he qualified fifth only to be demoted to the back of the grid after his car failed a post-qualifying inspection because of an illegal floor.
As Vettel pulled away, Webber complained over race radio that his KERS power-boosting system was not working properly, costing him valuable seconds each lap as Grosjean pressured him from behind.
They pitted at the same time, switching to medium tires, allowing Massa and Alonso to move up to second and third, respectively, as the Ferrari drivers stayed out.
Vettel's lead was so commanding that he could take his first pit stop and still come out comfortably ahead of the Ferraris.
Webber showed some slick driving to go around Rosberg to pull back into second place, but he was still a massive 27 seconds behind Vettel by the midway point.
Hamilton, meanwhile, was embroiled in a battle with Massa and Force India driver Adrian Sutil as they fought for places behind Grosjean.
"I don't know what is wrong with the car," Hamilton lamented over his radio. "It just has no grip."
Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg was investigated by stewards and given a drive-through penalty for an unsafe pit release after he almost crashed into the McLaren of Sergio Perez.
Webber and Rosberg pitted for the second time within moments of each other on lap 34, while Vettel waited a few laps longer to make his second stop, as did Grosjean.
With 10 laps to go, Alonso went off the track after nearly colliding with Vergne's Toro Rosso. Stewards were investigating whether Alonso stayed within the track limits.
Two-time former champion Alonso has not won a race since the Spanish GP in May, but with Raikkonen out he did at least consolidate his second place in the drivers' standings.
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