Sebastian Vettel’s final F1 race will be in Abu Dhabi, and Fernando Alonso promises to “take care” of the German driver.
Fernando Alonso will try to “take care” of Sebastian Vettel in the four-time World Champion’s farewell Formula One event, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Vettel qualified ninth for his 299th and final Grand Prix start before retiring, while Alonso qualified 11th at the Yas Marina Circuit while donning a commemorative helmet to his former rival.
Alonso was later promoted to 10th, which means he will share the fifth row of the grid with Vettel as Daniel Ricciardo will drop three positions due to his contact with Kevin Magnussen in Brazil.
The double World Champion expresses his intention to be able to safeguard Vettel throughout the race.
“I was very happy… It’s not that we tried to help him, but we are trying to have an eye on him, when we see him in the mirror or when he’s coming on a fast lap whatever, because we want a smooth weekend for him,” Alonso said after qualifying.
“Even tomorrow, he is starting ninth and I am starting 10th, so I’ll take care of him at the start and on the first lap – and let’s hope we both see the chequered flag.”
Being eliminated in Q2 caused Alonso to believe that the Alpine “didn’t have the pace” for his individual session.
“P13 in FP3, P15 in Q1 at the limit and then P11 in Q2 – I felt okay with the lap, and we will be P10 with Daniel’s penalty from Brazil,” the Alpine driver said. “It’s okay, we start in the points, so let’s hope to make some places up and finish P7 or P8 which is our normal goal.”
