Lewis Hamilton claimed a commanding victory at the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel suffered a dramatic early exit at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.
Vettel started from pole position and looked set to continue his dominant season, but an unexpected puncture on his right rear tire caused him to spin off track at Turn 2 during the opening lap.
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SubscribeThe reigning champion's unexpected retirement ended his bid to equal Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a single season while leaving the race wide open for the chasing pack.
Capitalizing on the chaos, McLaren's Hamilton seized control of the twilight race and drove flawlessly to the checkered flag without facing any serious pressure from his rivals.
Vettel Disaster Opens Door for McLaren Triumph
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso put up a strong performance to finish second after overtaking Jenson Button on the opening lap, while Button rounded out the podium in third place for McLaren.
Sebastian Vettel's shocking first-lap retirement completely altered the tactical landscape of the penultimate round of the 2011 Formula One World Championship.
With the Red Bull star out of contention, the battle for supremacy shifted toward the McLaren and Ferrari camps under the twilight lights of Abu Dhabi.
Fernando Alonso capitalized brilliantly on the early drama, muscling his Ferrari past Jenson Button to secure a hard-fought runner-up finish behind Hamilton.