• Chronicle: Hamilton, mercilessly in Abu Dhabi
  • Abu Dhabi: an 'invisible' overtaking as a climax to the best season of Sainz

The overwhelming victory at Yas Marina, the result of the overwhelming superiority of Mercedes, should not devalue the apex of Lewis Hamilton's merits, capable of matching his victory record in 2019 (11) with which he already crushed the competition in 2014 and 2018 The ambition of the Briton, determined to close the World Cup "in style", is the best incentive for the future of Formula 1, which will hurry its last season before the regulatory revolution. Until March 15, when the 2020 World Cup rolls in Melbourne, two questions will float through the paddock: How to discuss the tyranny of the Silver Arrows? How to stop Hamilton in his ascent to the seventh heaven of Michael Schumacher?

Mercedes

The hexacampeón warning, shortly after the usual donuts with his W10 on the finish line, sounded the most decisive. “These guys will work at full speed to try to raise the bar, so this winter I will have to do the same. I sincerely believe that I can, because I feel fresh and ready to continue, ”said Hamilton as a tribute to his engineers and mechanics. At 34, only one less than The Kaiser in 2004, boredom seems like his only limit. In case there was any doubt, yesterday he signed in Abu Dhabi the sixth Grand Slam of his life (victory, pole, fast lap and leadership in all laps), with which he surpassed the record of Schumacher himself and Alberto Ascari.

Ferrari

A concise and devastating figure summarizes the failure of Scuderia. No less than 235 deficit points against Mercedes in a season to forget. In Yas Marina, he could not taste the Charles Leclerc podium, delayed more than an hour by an irregularity in the Monegasque fuel tank. The fine of 50,000 euros constitutes the last link in an intolerable chain of errors, initiated with cross orders in Shanghai. Since then, Espepentos in Montmeló, Singapore or Sochi and a double zero gloomy as icing on Interlagos. Mattia Binotto , top technical manager, needs to urgently order. First, promoting Leclerc ahead of Sebastian Vettel. Then, with a renewal in intermediate positions, both strategically and mechanically.

Red bull

«It has been a positive season in general. Third in the World Cup is a great result for me and for the team, ”summed up Max Verstappen about his 2019, crowned with two wins, three poles, nine podiums and 29 points more than the previous year. Being positive, these data only represent the starting point in the alliance between Red Bull and Honda, secured until 2021 and with the intention of extending until 2023. «We are very happy with them. It's like a liberation, ” Helmut Marko , one of the Austrian team's bosses, said Thursday.

McLaren

Fernando Alonso's heartfelt hug in Abu Dhabi was a fabulous recognition for Carlos Sainz , tenth in the goal and sixth in the World Cup. "The overtaking Nico Hulkenberg in the last lap I will not forget!" Proclaimed the Madrid in a statement from McLaren where he did not skimp on exclamations. The next course, the last one with Renault before assembling Mercedes engines, should serve to narrow the fence with the three teams above. And to climb more podiums.

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