The 2009 Formula1 season-finale saw another 1-2 finish for the Red Bull racing team, led by Sebastian Vetttel. World Champion Jenson Button added another podium fnish to his year’s tally, and was all over the back of Mark Webber’s Red Bull at the chequered flag in an exciting end to an otherwise predictable race. Lewis Hamilton was fastest on Saturday, and held the lead for a good part of the race, but his McLaren’s brakes let-go, and spoiled his party. Crippled by his brake problems, he wasn’t able to match the pace he had set in the practise sessions and qualifying, and couldn’t open-up much of a lead right from the start. It looked like he will loose his lead after the first pit-stops, as Vettel would have been able to run longer than him. As it turned out, he lost his lead even before his pit-stop as he was told by the McLaren mechanics to park-up. This was the first time that an F1 car had let him down in 52 races.

Vettel’s pit stop passed without drama – but only just. Toro Rosso rookie Jaime Alguersuari showed his inexperience in  a bizzare incident, where while coming into the pits, he mistook Vettel’s Red Bull pit crew to be his own and dived-in. The Red Bull mechanics hurried him out as Vettel arrived. Alguersuari, meanwhile, failed to complete the next lap and retired. Team-mate Webber had pitted before him, and from then-on the race was there for the German’s taking. The Kamui Kobayashi-Jenson Button battle continued here in Abu Dhabi, and this time the talented youngster left a bitter taste in the mouth for the 2009 world champion. Button, after his first stop, came out right in front of Kobayashi who was running a one-stop strategy. Even though the champ was on a heavier car and on cold tyres, it was a great move from Kobayashi to pass Button down the inside at turn eight.

Barrichello finished fourth behind his team mate and one place ahead of Nick Heidfeld in the final race for BMW. Kobayashi finished a remarkable sixth which could serve as a boost to the chances of Toyota approving a budget for the team later this month. Jarno Trulli backed him up in seventh, and Buemi scored the final point. So, this day-night inaugural race at Abu Dhabi marked the end to the 2009 Formula1 season. At the end of it all, this is what the driver’s championship and the constructor’s championship looks like.

Driver’s Championship

Constructor’s Championship

We at three2tango had fun covering this Formula1 season for you. If you have felt even half of what we have been through in our attempt, it was worth all our effort. Looking forward to the next season, and your continued support.
Your’s truly,
The three2tango team!

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