Sport Formula 1 season finale
Dominator Max Verstappen strikes one last time
Status: 26.11.2023 | Reading time: 4 minutes
Lonely at the top: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
What: AFP
Max Verstappen also wins the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi. While the competition is looking for ways to increase Red Bull’s dominance, the Dutchman is enjoying his triumph.
At the brightly lit Yas Marina Circuit, Formula 1 ruler Max Verstappen set another highlight at the end of his unprecedented record season. The Red Bull star also won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday evening and, in addition to his 19th win of the season, celebrated the 54th Grand Prix success of his career. The 26-year-old Dutchman overtook Sebastian Vettel, who had won 53 races in his career, in the all-time best list. “Another incredible race,” Verstappen radioed to the pits. “You were simply great,” praised team boss Christian Horner.
Only Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes (103) and Michael Schumacher (91) celebrated more victories in the premier class of motorsport. Verstappen had already snatched the record for the most consecutive wins in a year from Vettel over the course of the season. No Formula 1 driver has ever won 19 races in one season.
In a class of his own: the new and old world champion Max Verstappen
Quelle: Getty Images
Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari came second in a largely uneventful race that was once again dominated by Verstappen. In third place came George Russell, who, together with Hamilton in ninth place, secured Mercedes second place in the constructors’ championship. Ferrari was only three points short. Remarkable side note: Verstappen would have won the constructors’ championship single-handedly, he scored 575 points.
Hamilton winless for the second year in a row
For the only German driver in the field, the season ended in 15th place. After Nico Hülkenberg took over the cockpit from the retired Mick Schumacher at the American Haas racing team, the bottom line was that the result was mediocre. The 36-year-old Emmerich native was only able to score nine points. Schumacher managed twelve last year.
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On the last Grand Prix weekend of the season, Verstappen and Red Bull impressively demonstrated why they could not be beaten and will again be favorites at the 2024 season opener in Bahrain in just under 100 days. The competition only managed to win once this year; in Singapore, Ferrari celebrated thanks to Carlos Sainz. Sergio Pérez won two races in the second Red Bull, the rest went to Verstappen. Since the sprint, which he didn’t like at all, on October 7th in Qatar, he has been confirmed as world champion, for the third time in a row.
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He won his first title two years ago in Abu Dhabi. Back then in a final that was as dramatic as it was controversial with his overtaking maneuver on the last lap against record champion Hamilton. For the 38-year-old Brit, it was all about damage limitation and points for the team championship against Ferrari; the 103-time Grand Prix winner remained without a single victory for the second season in a row.
Two attacks from Leclerc
Verstappen is the new Hamilton. Just like the Brit once did in the Mercedes, the Dutchman dominates the competition. After only mediocre training performances in the United Arab Emirates, he was there when pole position was at stake in qualifying. Like in 2020, 2021 and 2022, he started from first place. Next to him Leclerc.
The 26-year-old Monegasque, who was considered the Scuderia’s title hopeful but once again experienced more disappointments than moments of joy this year, knew that he wouldn’t have many opportunities to attack. So he tried it right after the start, Verstappen countered. Likewise, Leclerc’s second attempt on the first lap. And he did it like a champion.
He also came in for the first pit stop before Leclerc. Everything went smoothly, as always. After the drivers in the front positions had all changed their tires for the first time, Verstappen was around five seconds ahead of Leclerc. The sun had now set and the race traditionally starts in daylight and ends under floodlights.
Verstappen provided the highlight not only over the last 306.183 kilometers this year; the competition hoped in vain for a slump during the season and also in the last race. His seven victories in a row in the last seven races were once again a clear announcement for the coming year, if he can catch up with Vettel in his record hunt for world titles.
