Abu Dhabi – French Review: The Tricolores Go Up in Smoke!

Romain Grosjean: 9th (7th on the grid)

In qualifying, the Haas driver managed to qualify as the best of the rest while his teammate languished in 13th place.

Unfortunately for Romain Grosjean, he found himself involved in another collision, but this time it wasn’t his fault. The incident occurred approaching the second chicane. At the end of the first long straight, Nico Hülkenberg locked his left front wheel, preventing him from taking the apex. The German driver pushed Romain wide and cut across the French driver’s path. The Renault took off, rolled over several times, and landed upside down off the track.

SAFETY CAR: LAP 1/55

Huge collision involving Grosjean and Hülkenberg sends the Renault driver flying 💥😮

Thankfully he confirms on team radio that he is ok 👍#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/QBPgO7Ow2J

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 25, 2018

The rest of the race for number 8 will be more or less difficult. He will struggle to catch up but will manage to be opportunistic in order to climb back into the points, ahead of Kevin Magnussen. Like his season, Grosjean’s last race will have been very eventful.

Pierre Gasly: retirement (17th on the grid)

The Japanese engine manufacturer did not spare the Toro Rosso driver this weekend. In qualifying, the Frenchman’s engine gave out at the end of his flying lap, preventing him from advancing to Q2.

At the start, the future Red Bull driver gains 4 positions and manages to move up to 13th place. The Norman is called to the pits relatively early, forcing him to battle with the Williams, the McLarens, and his teammate throughout the Grand Prix. Even after Pierre manages to get past his opponents, it’s only for a short time as he will have to retire due to a mechanical failure. Gasly even takes the opportunity to throw some shade at his future teammate before pulling off the track.

That’s smoke coming out of the back of Gasly’s Toro Rosso 🔎

He urges the marshals to check for fire as he retires six laps from the finish#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ysHe53vQ8g

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 25, 2018

Esteban Ocon: retirement (9th on the grid)

For his 50th and last race before, hopefully, a sabbatical year, Esteban Ocon was not spared. Although the Frenchman once again outperformed his teammate in the qualifying session, the race turned out to be quite different.

In the opening moments of the race, the Force India driver was fiercely battling with Max Verstappen, but this time the two drivers would not collide. Later in the race, the Norman was pursued by a certain Sebastian Vettel, who was himself being chased by Sergio Perez. The number 31 would not manage to hold off his two pursuers and would eventually give way.

Ocon, then in the points, will retire in the pit lane to conclude what has been a complicated season for the future third driver of Mercedes. Given the pace of the pink car, one can only be disappointed with the outcome of his race.

No matter the result of this race, I thank everyone who has given me a lot of support, the fans, the people in the paddock, the team bosses, but also my mechanics to whom I owe my results, and the media who have supported me. I thank everyone and I want to say that I will be back very soon! declared Ocon after his retirement.

LAP 47/55

Esteban Ocon’s final race for Force India ends eight laps from the finish

Looks like a potential oil leak issue#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/76Xq0IoAXd

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 25, 2018