• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Comments: 4

Button powerless to hold off Vettel

ESPN Staff
November 4, 2012 « Hamilton 'gutted' to retire from the lead | Webber deserved a penalty - Massa »
Jenson Button lost out to Sebastian Vettel with four laps to go © Getty Images
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Jenson Button said it was "impossible" to hold off Sebastian Vettel for third place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Having held third comfortably for much of the race, a late safety car allowed Vettel to erase a 20-second gap and pass around the outside of turn 11 on lap 52. Button said that the difference in tyre compounds coupled with his own struggles meant there was no way to hold on for a podium.

"It was quite a fun race, but at no point did I have pace," Button said. "I really struggled; very different to my run on Friday as I just couldn't find the grip - really, really strange. It was fun all the same, I had some good battles out there but just at the end there was impossible because he's on brand new tyres, and you just can't get traction on old tyres - especially old prime tyres and he's on new options - so it was very difficult, but that's the way it is."

Button added that it was a shame to lose out further to Ferrari in the battle for second in the constructors' championship.

"Lewis's retirement meant we dropped more points to Ferrari in the constructors' world championship. That was a great pity, but we have two big races remaining in which to make up the balance."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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