Vettel hoped to overtake Mercedes

By taking advantage of a bold strategy of the Team Ferrari allowing him to extend a stint, Sebastian Vettel took advantage of fresh tires for the end of the race and managed to climb to 3rd place ahead of the Red Bull de Max Verstappen et Daniel Ricciardo with Mercedes de Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in the crosshairs.

If the SF16-H was not as fast as the W07 Hybrid, Sebastian Vettel took advantage of a poker move from Lewis Hamilton who deliberately slowed down to put his teammate in difficulty.

“It was a bit hot in the last two laps, I wouldn’t have liked to be in Nico’s place, admitted Sebastian Vettel. I tried to get closer with the hope of overtaking the two while Lewis slowed down at the front, but it was complicated because I had already hit my tires quite a bit. »

“I struggled a bit at the start, I couldn't get into the rhythm, added Sebastian Vettel. I was starting to get a little frustrated but I gained speed when I had the clear track in front of me. »

If Sebastian Vettel can be satisfied with this last podium of the season, his result could not change the position of Scuderia Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship which finished 70 points behind Red Bull Racing without having signed the slightest victory.

“The team deserved this podium today, insisted the Scuderia Ferrari driver. We worked hard and had to face a lot of criticism, some of it was fair and some of it wasn't, but that's how it works. It is a difficult discipline with very strong opponents. It’s been a complicated year but it’s nice to end on a good note. »

Discover the analysis of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in AUTO issue 2091hebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.