Max Verstappen has wrapped up a record-breaking 2023 F1 season with 19 wins from 22 races. While the drivers’ and constructors’ titles had already been decided some time ago, Mercedes and Ferrari headed into the Abu Dhabi GP still battling it out for P2. A penalty for Sergio Perez ended up giving Mercedes enough points to defeat Ferrari in that battle.
- Verstappen wins, 17.993 secs from Leclerc
- Mercedes defeats Ferrari by three points
- Final F1 race for Alfa Romeo
Verstappen takes comfortable Abu Dhabi GP win
In typical fashion, Verstappen converted pole position into a comfortable victory, 17.993 secs ahead of Leclerc. With this, the Red Bull driver now has the third most wins (54) in F1 history, behind only Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91).
“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,” said Verstappen.
Mercedes defeats Ferrari
Perez was handed a five-second time penalty for banging wheels with Lando Norris. Playing the strategic game, Leclerc let Perez pass him for P2 in the closing stages of the race, in the hopes that he’d build enough of a gap to George Russell. This, of course, would have helped Ferrari clinch P2 in the constructors’ championship.
While Perez did finish second on track, he fell 1.1 sec short and was demoted to fourth place, behind Leclerc and Russell. This gave Mercedes enough points to defeat Ferrari in the championship. Norris finished fifth, ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda, Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10.
With the sun now setting on the 2023 season, F1 action will now resume in February next year, with the pre-season test scheduled for February 29-March 2, 2024.
2023 Abu Dhabi GP results
Suraj Viswanathan
