MOTORSPORT: Verstappen dominates Abu Dhabi
Formula 1 champion finishes a record-breaking season with his 19th victoryMax Verstappen and Red Bull have rounded out a remarkable 2023 Formula 1 season with a commanding victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The success was his 19th win and 21st podium from the 22 races contested this year, while he became the first driver to lead over 1000 laps during a single season.
Red Bull claimed victory in all bar one GP.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen was pushed in the early stages by the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, before ultimately drawing away to seal his fourth consecutive Abu Dhabi victory.
“An incredible season,” said Verstappen.
“It was a bit emotional on the in-lap – the last time I was sitting in the car that has, of course, given me a lot.
“I’m very proud to win here and also at the last race.
“I have to say a big thank you to Red Bull, it’s just been an incredible year.
“It will be hard to do something similar again, but we definitely enjoyed this year.”
From the race start, Lerclerc looked to challenge Verstappen on the run to the first corner but relented, while Oscar Piastri (McLaren) maintained third after a strong final qualifying session for the Aussie F1 rookie.
Lando Norris (McLaren) was an early mover, displacing George Russell (Mercedes) on the opening circuit, before making his way past Piastri for third.
Russell was the next to make a move on Piastri stick, but he then came under pressure from Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri).
Pitting together on lap 15 of 58, Russell was able to move in front of Norris, while Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), who started back in 11th, nudged the Alpine of Pierre Gasly.
Hamilton was also involved in the action during the second round of pitstops, when he claimed he was brake tested by Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), although no action was taken by the stewards.
On lap 48, Sergio Perez (Red Bull) came to blows with Norris, with the contact forcing the Brit through a chicane, with the Mexican earning a five-second penalty for his part in the incident.
At the chequered flag it was Verstappen from Leclerc, Russell, Perez, Norris, Piastri, Alonso, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri), who finished just outside of the points in 11th.
In the final driver’s standings, it was a Red Bull one-two at the top, with Verstappen and Perez having already sealed the positions coming into this weekend, with the top five rounded out by Hamilton, Alonso and Leclerc.
Meanwhile, in the constructor’s championship, Red Bull finished with more than double the score of second-placed Mercedes, which in the end pipped Ferrari by three points in a battle that seesawed during the Grand Prix, while McLaren got the better of Aston Martin in the battle for fourth.
Interestingly, Verstappen’s 575 points would have comfortably won the constructor’s classification on his own, such was his dominance.
The 2024 Formula 1 season kicks off in Bahrain on March 2, with the Australian Grand Prix set to be the third event, on March 24.
2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results:
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Daniel Ricciardo, AlphaTauri
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Alex Albon, Williams
- Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
- Logan Sargeant, Williams
- Zhou Guanyu, Haas
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
- Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas
2023 Formula 1 championship standings:
- Max Verstappen – 575
- Sergio Perez – 285
- Lewis Hamilton – 234
- Fernando Alonso – 206
- Charles Leclerc – 206
- Lando Norris – 205
- Carlos Sainz – 200
- George Russell – 175
- Oscar Piastri – 97
- Lance Stroll – 74
Image credit: XPB
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