TORRENTE KEEPS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

After starting in fourth position, reigning world champion Torrente produced a determined bid to claim his ninth Grand Prix win before finally being edged out by Sweden’s Jonas Andersson by 1.97 seconds.

With Thani Al Qemzi also climbing two places from the start to take the third podium place, Team Abu Dhabi tightened their grip on the overall F1 team championship which they won so convincingly last year.

There was drama on the 14th lap when France’s three-times former world champion Phillipe Chiappe, enjoying a seven seconds lead over Andersson after a flying start from pole position, was halted by mechanical problems.

Moments later the race was yellow flagged after another Frenchman, Cédric Deguisne, turned his boat over, and from the re-start Torrente had Team Amaravati’s new leader, Andersson, in his sights and kept the pressure on all the way to the finish.

Torrent said at the finish: “I pushed hard to try and force Jonas into a mistake, while making sure I didn’t make any mistakes myself to stay ahead in the championship.”