Raikkonen wins Abu Dhabi thriller but Vettel clings onto lead

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus won the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, his first since returning to the sport at the start of the season.

The 33-year-old, who returned to Formula One this season after a two-year absence, held off the challenge from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel after leading the race from the 20th lap when pole sitter Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Mercedes was forced to retire with mechanical failure.

Hamilton's team mate Jenson Button finished in fourth position.

Vettel holds onto the championship lead by 10 points with two races remaining after a brilliant drive from pit lane to podium.

Raikkonen's 19th career win was the first since the 2007 world champion won in Belgium with Ferrari in 2009. It was also the first win since 1987 by a car racing under the Lotus name. 

He is the eighth different winner of the season in the only twilight race, giving Lotus a victory for the first time since Ayrton Senna won for the original Lotus team in the United States in 1987.

Asked on the podium by retired McLaren team mate David Coulthard what it was like to win again, the 'Iceman' replied: "Not much really.

"Last time you guys were giving me grief because I didn't smile enough but I'm happy for the team. It's been a hard season and not easy times lately," he added. "Hopefully this will give everyone belief and turn the tables so we can win more races, if not this year then next year."

When the team advised him of his lead after Hamilton slowed and pulled over after 20 of the 55 laps, Raikkonen was typically blunt: "Leave me alone, I know what to do," he told his engineer.

"Yes, yes, yes, I do it all the time," he added later on when they reminded him to warm the tyres.

Alonso pushed Raikkonen hard for victory in the closing laps of an extraordinary 55-laps contest that included two prolonged safety car periods and a rash of major accidents.

Vettel’s phenomenal drive, including clocking a fastest lap of 1:43.964, helped him retained the lead on 255 points with Alonso on 245 and Raikkonen on 198.

 "It was an unbelievable day for Sebastian today," said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Red Bull could have clinched the constructors' championship for the third year in a row on Sunday but were made to wait after Australian Mark Webber crashed out. 

They now have 422 points to Ferrari's 340 with 86 remaining to be won.

 "I'm happy but nothing to jump around about," Raikkonen told reporters later when asked how he would celebrated. "For sure we have a good party today and after a long night we will remember why we feel like that.

"I hope this can turn around the tables and give us many more wins if not this year then next year."

Alonso was content with second: "I'm very happy. We were not super competitive this weekend.

"We had to fight through the laps, then we had a good strategy that gave us a chance for the victory, but second was the maximum."

Vettel stormed into second place after championship rival Alonso made a pit stop on lap 29.

Having begun the race from pit lane, the two-time defending world champion battled his way back after making an early pit stop to repair a missing front wing.

The 25-year-old seeking a third triumph at Yas Marina Circuit closed the gap on leader Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus who went in front after pole sitter Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Mercedes froze at the halfway stage.

The 2008 world champion was comfortably ahead setting several fast laps but stopped at the side of the track on the entry to turn 15 after suffering mechanical failure on lap 21 barey after setting a new fastest lap of 1:47.266.

Alonso regained second position after Vettel had a second pit stop on lap 38.

But the deployment of the safety car on lap 42 turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Vettel who closed the gap on the leaders.

Vettel was initially asked whether he believed he could be on the podium after starting from the pitlane.

He replied with his characteristic grin: "Yes, I did to be honest with you.

"After the first couple of laps the target was drifting. I had a messy start and damaged the front wing.

"During the first safety car there was a big mistake from Daniel (Ricciardo), but after that it was either full attack or nothing.

"The second safety car helped, then I had a nice fight with Jenson. It was a thrilling grand prix, up and down all the time."

Jenson Button of McLaren Mercedes who moved ominously behind Alonso was engaged in a thrilling battle for second.

The safety car then bunched up the field after being deployed on the ninth lap following a dramatic flying smash when Germany's Nico Rosberg piled into the back of Indian Narain Karthikeyan's slowing HRT.

Rosberg's Mercedes was pitched into the air and over the Indian before plunging backwards into the safety barriers. Both drivers walked away unhurt but the impact left considerable debris strewed across the track.

The second safety car period was after a multi-car collision that ended Webber's race along with that of Raikkonen's French team mate Romain Grosjean.

Raikkonen was in command clocking a new fastest lap of 1:45.403 on the 44th.

Earlier, Raikkonen of Lotus led from Fernando Alonso who eased past Pastor Maldonado in turn 11 of lap 22 with a great DRS move.

Title contender Alonso got off to a flying start  when he overtook Mark Webber of Red Bull in the opening lap at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.

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