Jehan wins Abu Dhabi GP

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, December 11

India’s brightest prospect for Formula One, Jehan Daruvala, overturned last week’s disappointment in Jeddah as he led from start to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit today.

Daruvala, who races for Carlin Motorsport, was pegged back in Jeddah due to penalties that had forced him out of a podium place. Still, the Indian managed to keep Brazilian driver Felipe Drugovich, breathing down his neck for most part of the race, at bay for his second win of the season. Australia’s Oscar Piastri won the Formula Two title after finishing third. Daruvala won by a two-second margin over Drugovich to earn his fifth podium of the season. “I had a great battle with Felipe at one point and we were side-by-side for a couple of corners, but I managed to stick it out in front. The car felt good, and I just took it to the chequered flag,” the 23-year-old Mumbaikar said.

The win will go a long way in helping Daruvala retain his seat on the Red Bull junior driver programme. He’s been part of the programme for the last two years. This was his third win in Formula Two after the Bahrain success in 2020 and Monza early this year.

“After struggling in the early part of the weekend, it is fantastic to win here. I was under a lot of pressure in the first few laps as well as later on,” Daruvala said after the win.

Verstappen in pole position for title-decider

Abu Dhabi: Max Verstappen overcame a mistake in qualifying to grab the pole for the Formula One title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP, where he’ll try to dethrone seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton on Sunday. Verstappen flat-spotted his tyres in the second qualifying group today and seemed to give Hamilton the advantage. But the Dutchman salvaged his mistake with a lap at 1 minute, 22.109-seconds around Yas Marina Circuit to put his Red Bull on top. Hamilton attempted to bump him from the pole as the clock wound down on the final qualifying session of the season. But he was .371-seconds slower and will start second in his Mercedes next to his rival. pti