grand prix grand prix formally known formula motor race held november race nineteenth final round season marked seventh running grand prix round world championship inception defending race winner secured drivers championship earlier season team mercedes decided championship favour russian grand prix saturday qualifying mercedes secured sixth consecutive pole position went win race ahead teammate hamilton finished ferrari twelfth finish mercedes record breaking season saw finish highest number points scored row finishes course formula season report background going race weekend championships decided secured drivers title races earlier united states grand prix leading drivers championship points points ahead teammate championship team mercedes secured title races earlier russian grand prix leading ferrari points positions standings battle fourth place drivers championship point ahead sixth able position points williams teammate teammates points apart battle seventh championship standings sixth placed lotus points ahead needed points overcome eighth points tally managed rest season supplied teams yellow banded soft red banded super soft tyres dry weather options race race force india current moniker free practice regulations season practice sessions scheduled hour sessions friday hour session qualifying saturday fastest free practice session run clear sunny conditions time tenth second faster teammate second set new fastest sector times fast run mistake track lost chance best time fastest ferrari ahead teammate changed older specification power unit performance updated unit previous race brazil finished session seventh fastest lotus replaced sit session water leak managing laps second session friday afternoon topped setting time finishing tenth second ahead hamilton fastest force india unable run minutes session brake issues drivers fourth sixth respectively came second time ninth fastest session saturday time hamilton second quickest tenths second slower unable clean lap match teammate slower soft tyres lap traffic disturbed hamilton spinning hitting turn failed attempt fast lap super soft tyres later session forced wide repeating mistake turn hamilton marginally ahead finished ahead unable set timed lap team worked solve electrical problem qualifying qualifying consisted parts minutes length respectively drivers eliminated competing sessions beginning qualifying mercedes sent drivers faster super soft compound ferrari stayed slower soft tyres ferrari eventually decided drivers faster tyres end session aborted flying lap believing time sufficient proceeding round set time 16th place grid eliminating qualifying later describe team judgement small mistake big consequence cut lap left chance faster time held technical issue qualifying 18th drivers eliminated standings stevens seconds ahead teammate fastest tenths second ahead teammate qualifying session lotus experienced technical difficulties forced come pits sent unable set time stopping car turn seven teammate pastor proceed missed tenths second drivers eliminated unable match time teammate drivers competed pole position battle mercedes set fastest time right better time sector track allowed sixth consecutive pole position tenths ahead teammate held spot session beaten second turn runs followed row grid following gearbox change qualifying demoted places grid stevens received place penalties stevens change unit changes suspension start race row grid race start race sunday hamilton got away slowly able retained lead contact crashed forced retire needed pit new wing later given drive penalty dropping end field places sitting fifth twelfth respectively lap hand lost positions finding tenth soon built lead second giving hamilton chance deploy overtake manoeuvre lap come pits harder compound tyre followed lap later lap seven pitted able stay ahead stop unfortunate lost time problem tyre change laps later pitted sent path button damaging wing needed replace following lap received second penalty served scheduled stop leaders pitted new tyres laps order ahead stop hamilton started harder tyres sixth lap passed ninth place lap later hamilton mistake overtook retake second position lost position let pass lap different strategies built lead seconds hamilton lap allowed teammate pass came pit stop race leaving position laps later created tyres locked brakes forcing pit emerged 15th position came pit stop lap coming sixth place ahead time hamilton started reduce gap cutting seconds lap teammate closing pitted lap following suit pit stop delayed losing seconds starting close gap pitting early reacted lap changed super soft tyres coming sixth lap later hamilton came second final stop having asked team possible finish race stopping emerged seconds started cut advantage immediately field overtook button twelfth place laps respectively deemed forced button wide handed second penalty added finishing time lap saw final point scoring position tenth passing turn lap later took ninth place hamilton proved unable reach teammate took flag sixth win season completed podium followed post race podium interviews conducted formula driver expressed excitement end season worked describing race united_states low point speaking racing teammate hamilton called best said better feeling win definitely opposition hamilton turn praised team performance season saying surpassed expectations albeit happy season press conference placed said nice finish previous races pointing season marred small mistakes stated securing fourth place world championship mean dismissing idea finnish championship fourth placed said race best result way happy today adding clean race described campaign miracle ferrari endured speaking incident button round pit stops williams head performance engineering said team released driver right moment declaring accident happened saw button late following incidents race given time penalties penalty points overtaking outside track limits ignoring blue flags tried lap penalties meant points away race ban taking fourth position drivers championship change championship standings result following grand prix confirmed takeover lotus meaning grand prix team incarnation lotus moniker started classification qualifying notes received place grid penalty gearbox change stevens received place grid penalty change unit started race pit lane team took car alter suspension set race notes originally finished twelfth received second time penalty overtaking outside track limits second penalty ignoring blue flags championship standings race note positions included sets standings bold text indicates world champions
2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix