Max Verstappen ended a glorious 2023 season with yet another win as he roared to victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
Already boasting the most amount of wins in a Formula One season, Verstappen cruised to a 19th triumph of the campaign at the Yas Marina Circuit, moving ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the list of all-time race victories.
Verstappen dominated from pole to take him to 54 wins, meaning only Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher boast more victories in the sport than the Dutchman.
Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate, crossed the line in second but was demoted to fourth because of a five-second penalty for a collision with McLaren’s Lando Norris, who finished fifth.
In a class of his own #F1 @MAX33VERSTAPPEN PIC.TWITTER.COM/G0R3CE2KGN
— Formula 1 (@F1) NOVEMBER 26, 2023
With Red Bull already confirmed as the constructors’ championship winners, it was left to Ferrari and Mercedes to fight it out for second place heading into Sunday’s race.
Charles Leclerc came second, but his Ferrari team were forced to settle for third because of George Russell’s third-placed finish, enough for Mercedes to pip Ferrari to second in the constructors’ championship.
But, as it has been so many times this season, it was Verstappen and Red Bull’s day, and the driver will have his sights set on securing a fourth successive drivers’ championship in 2024, matching Vettel’s run between 2009 and 2012.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix result
1- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3- George Russell, Mercedes
4- Sergio Perez, Red Bull
5- Lando Norris, McLaren
6- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
7- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
8- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
9- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
10- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
