Max Verstappen accomplished an imposing and file-breaking season in acquainted model on Sunday when he cruised to a file-rising 19th win of the yr for Red Bull at an motion-packed Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The three-time world champion got here dwelling 17.993 seconds forward of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc whose daring drive was not sufficient for the Italian crew to assert the runners-up place within the constructors’ championship.
That went, lastly, to Mercedes by simply three factors as though Sergio Perez got here dwelling second behind Verstappen on the highway he was relegated to fourth with a 5-second penalty, for a mid-race conflict with McLaren’s Lando Norris, which promoted George Russell to 3rd.
Norris was fifth forward of his McLaren crew-mate Oscar Piastri, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri and 7-time champion Lewis Hamilton within the second Mercedes.
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Verstappen ended the season as the one driver to finish each lap of the season, greater than 1000 laps led, and likewise broke Jim Clark’s 1963 file for the very best proportion of laps led in a season.
“An incredible season,” stated Verstappen, who additionally paid tribute to retirement-certain Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost who nurtured his early F1 profession. “I felt quite emotional on the in-lap as it’s the last time in this car that has given me such a lot.
Russell said: “It was really tense at the end as the tyres were dropping off, but it’s a massive relief to bring the car home P3. It means a huge amount to so many people back at the factory.”
Leclerc, who slowed to permit Perez to cross him within the closing laps, stated: “He had a penalty and we had to help him finish in front of George with the five seconds… but, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough… It’s a shame we finished third.”
The race started in scorching situations, with an air temperature of 27 levels Celsius and the observe cooling quickly because the solar went down and the floodlights blazed on the Yas Marina Circuit. The high 12 vehicles began on medium compound tyres.
The Dutchman led from pole and fended off three early challenges from Leclerc to open up a one second lead earlier than Drag Reduction System (DRS) was enabled on lap three when Perez swept inside Hamilton for ninth and Norris handed Piastri for third, having already handed Russell.
As the leaders all pitted for hards, Yuki Tsunoda took over on lap 18, giving Alpha Tauri and Tost a memorable second, solely the second time a Japanese driver had led a Formula One race.
He stayed there as Verstappen weaved his method again to the entrance, lastly taking management once more on lap 23 when Tsunoda pitted, returning in twelfth behind Hamilton, who survived an early stumble upon the rear of Pierre Gasly’s Alpine with entrance wing injury.
By lap 30, it was a well-recognized story. Verstappen led Leclerc by 6.5 seconds with Russell 2.1 behind in third and Norris fourth. Hamilton was eighth and Sainz 14th.
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As the second stops started, Norris pitted once more on lap 34, taking contemporary hards. He re-joined tenth. Mercedes responded, bringing Russell in – and he got here out in P9 whereas Hamilton battled Alonso for ninth and Sainz, on an aggressive technique, rose to eighth.
As it stood, it was benefit Ferrari once more whereas, on the entrance, Verstappen got here in once more on lap 44, retaining his result in emerge with a 15-lap cruise to the flag earlier than Hamilton handed Sainz for ninth with 10 laps to go.
It was benefit Mercedes once more, however when Russell was handed by Perez, for third, the ‘silver arrows’ hopes held on the 5-second penalty the Mexican was given for an earlier conflict with Norris because the flag got here out for Verstappen.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)
