Several drivers in the GP2 Series field tangled on the first lap at Yas Marina Circuit this weekend, and the season finale for the developmental series then had to be called off in order for the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to start on time.
That’s right—the race finished one whole lap before having to call it quits. The season finale, of all things. Drivers involved climbed out of their cars following the wreck, but the circuit barriers needed extensive fixes.
The wreck started by virtue of a spin by Pierre Gasly that collected a handful of other drivers, causing a red flag on the opening lap of the race. Sky Sports F1 reports that 40 minutes into barrier fixes, officials called the race in order to start the F1 season finale on time.
Due to the unexpected brevity of the event, drivers received no points in the championship-ending race. But it didn’t make much of a difference in the standings—series champion Stoffel Vandoorne ended the season with 341.5 total points over runner-up Alexander Rossi’s 181.5.
After completing the barrier fixes, F1 took to the grid and Mercedes AMG driver Nico Rosberg took his third-straight win to end the season. But that chain of wins came a tad too late, because Rosberg lit his season-ending fire after teammate and searing rival Lewis Hamilton clinched the championship.
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