ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Valtteri Bottas won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday, beating his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton as Formula One’s season finale petered out into a procession.
The Finnish driver comfortably secured the third win of his F1 career, all this season since joining from Williams. It was his 22nd career podium and 13th with Mercedes.
With his fourth world title already secure, Hamilton had no need to chase the win. He finished 4 seconds behind and did not get close enough to attack.
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The race started at 5 p.m. local time with the sun setting on the desert setting of the Yas Marina circuit and finished under floodlights.
Bottas started from pole for the fourth time this season and assuredly held the position into the first corner.
Sebastian Vettel, who won the last race in Brazil, finished 20 seconds behind him in third place. Vettel’s Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen was fourth and also moved up to fourth in the standings, behind Bottas and second-place Vettel.
Hamilton clinched the world title – his third with Mercedes – in Mexico two races ago when he ended Vettel’s fading hopes.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen finished fifth while teammate Daniel Ricciardo retired, dropping from fourth to fifth in the standings.
Veteran Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, the 2008 F1 runner-up to Hamilton, finished 10th in his last race before retiring.
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland leads the start of the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car during the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland leads during the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland leads the start ahead of Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany, left, and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, right during the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waves to supporters ahead of the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Spectators stand by banners for Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain while watching the drivers’ parade before the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, center right, both of Germany, step down the drivers’ parade truck platform before the Emirates Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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