Kimi cements his position as Formula 1s comeback king by taking victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; the 19th win of his Formula 1 career and the 48th for an Enstone team.
How difficult was it getting everything coming together this weekend?
Ive been saying already that we have the speed in the race but if we keep messing it up on the Saturdays and putting ourselves in that position then we cannot use the lap time speed and then the result will be like what happened in the last race. This weekend we knew that the race start would make all the difference, and make or break it, so the aim was to make a good start and follow Lewis. McLaren were a bit faster but you have to finish to win, and they had some issues.
How does it feel to be on the top step again? Pretty special to have that 19th win?
To be honest its just another win in the list of them. Its great of course, because its been a few years, but the wins prior to this one were very similar, we didnt have the best car, but we fought and still won. Its great to win now, so people will stop asking me if I can win or not, and at least it makes it a bit clearer!
Is it good that youve answered that whens the win coming question?
I never cared really what people think if I dont finish the next race, then theyll think that Im as bad as that race. Ill just do my thing, and if Im happy with what Im doing and its the best it can be for the team, then thats that. So then I really dont care if people are thinking differently of me now, than what they did three hours before the race.
Are you going to have a legendary Kimi party tonight?
Well, to be honest its usually the same, it doesnt matter if I lose or win, it doesnt change the parties!
Kimi Raikkonen (1st)"Im very happy for the team, and for myself also. You never know whats going to happen during the race; the safety cars made it quite tricky, but Ive had similar races many, many times this year. Today we had a clear circuit to be able to use our speed. Perhaps we were not the fastest at the end, but we were quick enough and consistent enough to win so its great for the team. Weve had some difficult races in the second half of the season so its fantastic to come back with a win."
Romain Grosjean (DNF)"I am very happy for Kimi as its the win we were waiting for and its an unbelievable result for the whole team. For myself Im disappointed as I was running pretty well. It was a tight battle with three of us in a row at turn eleven, then Sergio [Perez] went off track at turn thirteen and came back on the inside at turn fourteen leaving me with no room to go anywhere else. Mark then came from behind and we touched; it was a big shame. A great day for the team, but an unlucky one for me."
James Allison, Lotus technical director"When you are as happy as this it is hard to avoid lapsing into clich. Despite being tantalisingly close several times this year, we have waited a long time to return to the top step of the podium. It is a massive tribute both to a flawless drive from Kimi and to the tenacity of the entire Enstone team for never having taken their eye off the prize all year. With two races left in the season we go on to Austin with a spring in our step, invigorated to do it all over again and see what we can achieve."
Eric Boullier, Lotus team principal"I have one word first of all: Great. Then there are many words such as relief and deserved. Its obviously a very well deserved result for the team. Im pleased for Kimi and he did a very good job. Weve been pushing very hard all season and weve nearly had it before. Theres a little frustration not to have had a win sooner, and we have been waiting for it, but its a fantastic feeling to finally take that victory and a superb reward for the team. Its great for Formula 1, its great for Kimi and its great for our team."1. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1h45:58.6672. Alonso Ferrari + 0.8523. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 4.1634. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 7.7875. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 13.0076. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 20.0767. Massa Ferrari + 22.8968. Senna Williams-Renault + 23.5429. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 24.16010 Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 27.40011 Schumacher Mercedes + 28.00012 Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 34.90013 Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 47.70014 Glock Marussia-Cosworth + 56.40015 Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 56.70016. Petrov Caterham-Renault + 1:04.50017. De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth + 1:11.5
Fastest lap: Vettel, 1:43.964
DNFsPic Marussia-Cosworth Grosjean Lotus-Renault Webber Red Bull-Renault Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth Rosberg Mercedes Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
World Championship standings after Abu Dhabi Drivers' Championship Top Ten 1. Vettel 255 2. Alonso 245 3. Raikkonen 198 4. Webber 167 5. Hamilton 165 6. Button 153 7. Massa 95 8. Rosberg 93 9. Grosjean 90 10 Perez 66
Constructors Championship
1. Red Bull-Renault 4222. Ferrari 3403. McLaren-Mercedes 3184. Lotus-Renault 2885. Mercedes 1366. Sauber-Ferrari 1247. Force India-Mercedes 958. Williams-Renault 739. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 22
Fastest lap: Vettel, 1:43.964
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