Fortune finally smiled on Lewis Hamilton on Sunday when he won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel’s luck ran out. The McLaren driver was on hand to make the most of the spin Vettel suffered exiting the very first corner of the race at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Vettel suffered a right rear puncture and was forced to retire for the first time this season. That means the world champion’s attempt to match Michael Schumacher’s record of 13 victories in a single season is now at an end. Hamilton’s win was his third of 2011 but much-needed in the context of a difficult season for the 26-year-old, who has been criticised for the number of collisions he has been involved in.