Abu Dhabi GP driver ratings

How big a win Abu Dhabi really proves for Valtteri Bottas will not become clear until the start of next season but, in his own words, it was a "really important" success going into F1's long winter.
There has certainly been more good than bad in the likeable Finn's first season at Mercedes, with three wins and four poles the respectable headline achievements, but his ability to take on Lewis Hamilton over a whole season clearly remains a question mark But he beat 2017's world champion fair and square in Abu Dhabi, delivering the fastest lap of qualifying and then controlling the race from the front despite the sister Mercedes' best harrying attempts behind.
With a first full winter now to come at Mercedes, Bottas' quest for 2018 is to deliver such a level of performance all through the campaign. For the first time since the summer break, Lewis Hamilton was out-qualified by a team-mate in Q3. For the first time since Nico Rosberg's retirement, Hamilton finished second behind a Mercedes in the race.
And although following at the Yas Marina circuit was evidently difficult, Hamilton can have no complaints. He was beaten by the better man.
"It's clear that something happens after you win the championship," was the Englishman's verdict after again failing to win a race in a season in which he has already been crowned champion. But he also praised Bottas as doing an "exceptional job", and may have an intra-team fight on his hands in 2018 if the Finn continues this form. Kimi Raikkonen bemoaned a "boring race" similar to endurance racing as he was forced to save fuel, finishing more than 20 seconds behind Ferrari team-mate Vettel.
But while Sunday may not have been totally representative to any pace the Finn may have had, the qualifying stats do not lie. Raikkonen was out-qualified for the 15th time this year in the season-ender - only Lance Stroll has been beaten more often.
If Ferrari really do want to end their Constructors' Championship drought next season, they surely need more from Raikkonen, who finishes as the only driver from the 'big six' without a 2017 race victory.

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