ABU DHABI // A year is a long time in most sports, but in the politicised plutocracy that is Formula One, a year can feel like a decade.
In Abu Dhabi 12 months ago, Sebastian Vettel was a four-time world champion and his Red Bull Racing team four-time constructors’ champions.
On Sunday night, the German and his teammate Daniel Ricciardo were both forced to start the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ignominiously from the pit lane after being punished for running a front-wing that was found to flex more than permitted by the FIA, motorsport’s governing body.
Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, conceded pre-race that his team had pushed the regulations to the limit and “the authorities have deemed we’ve gone over that limit”.
Vettel, who started from the pits in 2012 and raced through the field to finish third, has not been inside the dominant car this season and was only able to finish eighth.
He ends the season fifth in the championship, two places and 71 points behind Ricciardo, who has impressed greatly in his first season at the Austrian-owned marque.
“I can’t be completely happy,” Vettel said. “When you race you want to finish as high up as you can and we had the pace to finish higher.”
Ricciardo remarkably climbed through the field to finish fourth and secure third place in the world championship standings. The Australian called it “pretty much a faultless race”.
“We did everything we needed to,” he said.
“It wasn’t boring, but one step better would have been nice from the pit lane. It’s been a pretty much perfect year without holding a world title. It was nice to start and finish the season well.”
For Vettel, this year has marked a hard fall from grace after four years of dominance. He will leave the team to join Ferrari for next season on a three-year deal.
“This season has not been great,” he said. “I’m not the happiest guy.
“The past six years have been an incredible journey. Obviously we didn’t expect that when we started working together – you can never expect four drivers’ titles and four constructors’ championships in a row.
“You go through happy days and sad days, you go through them together and I think I learnt a lot, but now I feel ready for the next step.”
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