November 26, 2023 11:32 pm | Updated 11:32 pm IST – ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates
Max Verstappen celebrates through the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 26, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Max Verstappen’s excellent season ended with a cushty victory on the Abu Dhabi on Sunday, incomes the Formula One champion a record-extending 19th victory of the marketing campaign and 54th general to maneuver into third on the all-time checklist.
Verstappen completed forward of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes driver George Russell, and in addition collected a bonus level for the quickest lap. His 54th profession win moved him one forward of former Red Bull nice Sebastian Vettel, with solely Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (103) left forward of him.
“What an incredible year,” Verstappen mentioned after crossing the road. “It was a bit emotional on the in-lap.”
Red Bull gained 21 of 22 races this season, with Sergio Perez claiming two wins.
“It will be very hard to have another season like this, we know that,” Verstappen said. “We will see, we are working hard for next year to have a very competitive car.”
After profitable two of the primary 4 races, Perez fell shortly behind his star teammate.
“You’ve smashed it out of the park this year,” Red Bull workforce principal Christian Horner informed Verstappen on the radio. “We’re all incredibly proud of you.”
Perez crossed the road in second place however dropped to fourth as a result of of a five-second time penalty following an incident with McLaren’s Lando Norris late on.
Leclerc let Perez go previous him on the ultimate lap within the hope that Perez would end greater than 5 seconds forward of Russell, with Mercedes and Ferrari each combating for second place within the constructors’ championship.
With Russell’s teammate Hamilton ending ninth for two factors and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. out of the factors, Mercedes clinched second behind Red Bull within the constructors’ desk.
“Unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” mentioned Leclerc, after his third podium prior to now 4 races. “It’s just a shame we finished third in constructors, that’s all that mattered to me, we didn’t achieve that but I want to thank the team for doing such incredible work.”
Mercedes beat Ferrari by just three points, and while Sainz is the only other driver to win a race this season — in Singapore two months ago — his failure to score in Abu Dhabi proved costly for Ferrari.
At the end, it was Russell who delivered.
“It means a huge amount, there’s so many people back at the factory who have worked so hard to achieve this, it’s been a really challenging season,” Russell said after only his second podium this season. “I’ve let the side down a couple of times this year so I’m pleased to have brought it across the line today.”
Norris completed the race in fifth place forward of his teammate Oscar Piastri, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in seventh. AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, Hamilton and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) accomplished the highest 10.
Hamilton positioned third within the standings however the seven-time F1 champion completed and not using a victory for a second straight 12 months.
Verstappen began from pole place for the twelfth time this season — greater than twice as many as another driver — with Leclerc alongside him and Piastri third.
The Yas Marina observe is one of hardest to overhaul on and Verstappen made a great begin, holding off a pair of assaults by Leclerc.
Verstappen switched to arduous tires on lap 17 of 58, adopted by Leclerc on the following lap, leaving Tsunoda within the uncommon place of main a race on workforce principal Franz Tost’s final grand prix earlier than retiring.
Verstappen regained the lead a number of laps later and was by no means troubled.
Perez was given a penalty for bumping tires with Norris, though it appeared that Norris had sufficient house and became Perez’s entrance proper tire.
“Why are we given this penalty? I used to be forward,” a bemused Perez mentioned on workforce radio.
Perez was second general this season to present Red Bull a 1-2, however the veteran Mexican driver completed a mammoth 290 factors behind Verstappen.
