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December 2, 2019

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Hamilton cruises to Abu Dhabi victory

Source: AFP | 00:05 UTC+8 December 2, 2019 | Print Edition

Lewis Hamilton delivered sumptuous confirmation of his title-winning supremacy yesterday when he claimed his 84th career victory and 11th in 21 races this year by dominating the season-ending 鈥渢wilight鈥 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Starting from a record 88th pole position, the 34-year-old Briton was unchallenged from lights to flag as he cruised to an untroubled Formula One triumph 16 seconds ahead of Red Bull鈥檚 Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who faced a post-race investigation for fuel irregularities.

The six-time world champion鈥檚 success extended his points-scoring run to a record-equalling 33 races, levelling with his own record, and brought him his 50th victory from pole position.

鈥淭hat was an absolute master-class,鈥 Hamilton鈥檚 race engineer Peter Bonnington told him on team radio. 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 even break into a sweat!鈥

The winner, who secured title No. 6 with two races to go in Texas last month replied: 鈥淚 can assure you, I am definitely sweating.鈥

His fifth win at the Yas Marina circuit drew him level with Brazilian icon Ayrton Senna in claiming a 19th start-to-finish triumph. He is now only seven wins behind seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher鈥檚 all-time record of 91, which he could overtake next season.

Hamilton鈥檚 Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, who had started from the back of the grid after taking a new engine, came home fourth ahead of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari and Alex Albon in the second Red Bull.

It was a welcome morale boost for the competitive Finn, three days after announcing the end of his three-year marriage to Emilia.

Sergio Perez took seventh for Racing Point on the final lap, Lando Norris was eighth for McLaren, Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso ninth and Carlos Sainz, in the second McLaren, took 10th.

The race was preceded by drama for Ferrari when Leclerc鈥檚 car was discovered, during a pit-lane inspection, to have a fuel irregularity that revealed 鈥渟ignificant discrepancies鈥 and required a planned post-race stewards investigation.

It was embarrassing for the team, in one of Ferrari鈥檚 key markets and close to the Ferrari World theme park, but this seemed to have no effect on the Monegasque who made a strong start and passed Verstappen for second at Turn Eight on the opening lap.

Hamilton made a perfect start to his 250th F1 race and was 1.6 seconds clear after one lap and 3.3 by lap six as Leclerc launched his pursuit, moving two seconds clear of the Dutchman in a bid to overhaul him and take third in the drivers鈥 championship. After a typically hot day, the sun went down and the floodlights came on around the track.

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