2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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| 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | |
|---|---|
 Arz · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source | |
| GrandPrix | Abu Dhabi |
| Caption | Yas Marina Circuit layout |
| Date | 1 November 2009 |
| Year | 2009 |
| OfficialName | 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
| RaceNo | 17 |
| SeasonNo | 17 |
| Location | Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Course | Permanent racing facility |
| CourseMi | 3.451 |
| CourseKm | 5.554 |
| DistanceLaps | 55 |
| DistanceMi | 189.8 |
| DistanceKm | 305.47 |
| Weather | Clear |
| PoleDriver | Sebastian Vettel |
| PoleTeam | Red Bull Racing |
| PoleTime | 1:40.279 |
| FastDriver | Lewis Hamilton |
| FastTeam | McLaren |
| FastTime | 1:40.279 |
| FastLap | 32 |
| FirstDriver | Sebastian Vettel |
| FirstTeam | Red Bull Racing |
| SecondDriver | Fernando Alonso |
| SecondTeam | Renault |
| ThirdDriver | Lewis Hamilton |
| ThirdTeam | McLaren |
2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the seventeenth and final round of the 2009 Formula One World Championship, held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on 1 November 2009. The event concluded a season that had seen title contests involving Jenson Button, Brawn GP, Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, and Lewis Hamilton. The weekend produced notable performances from emerging drivers and confirmed final championship positions amid corporate and sporting shifts involving teams such as Ferrari, McLaren, and Renault.
Background and build-up
The race arrived after the season finale drama at circuits like Interlagos and rounds including Monaco Grand Prix, British Grand Prix, and Belgian Grand Prix. Heading into Abu Dhabi, the 2009 Formula One World Championship had seen technical regulation changes from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) that influenced aerodynamics and KERS strategies, affecting teams such as Brawn GP, Toyota, BMW Sauber, and Red Bull Racing. Driver market movements involving Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Heikki Kovalainen, and Jarno Trulli were already shaping the 2010 Formula One season, while corporate entities like Virgin Group and sponsors including Etihad Airways were increasing the profile of the Abu Dhabi event. The Yas Marina facility, designed by Hermann Tilke, offered a twilight timetable and pit-lane complexities that challenged engineers from Adrian Newey's Red Bull Technology to technical directors at McLaren and Ferrari.
Qualifying
Qualifying saw intense competition among drivers representing outfits such as Red Bull Racing, McLaren Mercedes, Renault F1, BMW Sauber, and Force India. Pole position was claimed by Sebastian Vettel after a decisive lap under the supervision of race stewards appointed by the FIA; this performance contrasted with efforts from Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, and Nico Rosberg. Teams worked on tire strategy with Bridgestone compounds and adjusted suspension and wing settings to suit the Yas Marina layout, where technical corners and long straights rewarded power units from manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari. Grid penalties and parc fermé considerations involving mechanics and sporting regulations influenced starting positions for competitors including Timo Glock, Nelson Piquet Jr., and Sébastien Buemi.
Race
The grand prix commenced under clear skies with the field negotiating the Yas Marina pit exit and first corner sequence that had previously produced incidents in events such as the 2008 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix support races. Vettel converted his pole into a race victory for Red Bull Racing by managing tire degradation and executing pit stops against rivals from Renault and McLaren. Fernando Alonso delivered a strong drive for Renault F1, while Lewis Hamilton recovered to claim a podium for McLaren. Midfield battles featured drivers from Toro Rosso, Brawn GP, Force India, Williams, and Sauber, with on-track duels involving Sebastien Bourdais, Nico Hülkenberg, and Kazuki Nakajima. Strategy calls by race engineers and team principals—names such as Christian Horner, Ross Brawn, and Flavio Briatore—shaped the outcome as safety car considerations and fuel loads were managed under FIA sporting regulations. The chequered flag confirmed Vettel's victory, followed by Alonso and Hamilton on the podium.
Post-race analysis and standings impact
Post-race scrutiny from commentators and analysts at outlets covering Sky Sports, BBC Sport, and Autosport highlighted Vettel's emergence as a leading talent alongside established drivers like Button and Hamilton. The result cemented final positions in the 2009 drivers' standings for competitors such as Jenson Button (champion), Sebastian Vettel (rising star), and Rubens Barrichello. Constructors' placements for Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing, McLaren, and Ferrari were finalized, influencing commercial and sponsorship arrangements with firms including Vodafone, Petronas, and Total. Technical debriefs at factories in Brackley, Milton Keynes, and Maranello focused on aerodynamic package performance, while the FIA reviewed any sporting incidents and stewarding reports from the weekend.
Legacy and records
The event contributed to the continuing legacy of Yas Marina as a modern Formula One venue and underscored trends such as young-driver promotion exemplified by Vettel and teammates from Toro Rosso and Red Bull Junior Team. Records and milestones from the race fed into career narratives for drivers like Vettel, Hamilton, and Alonso, and impacted team strategies going into the 2010 Formula One season where rule changes and driver transfers—featuring names such as Michael Schumacher and Sergio Pérez in subsequent years—would reshape the grid. The Abu Dhabi round also reinforced commercial sport partnerships involving Aston Martin, Renault Sport, and airline sponsors, while circuit design by Hermann Tilke continued to be a reference point in debates over racetrack architecture and grand prix scheduling.
Category:2009 in motorsport Category:Formula One Grands Prix