Verstappen beats Leclerc in season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Three-time world champion Max Verstappen ended the season in dominant style, successful the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from Charles Leclerc and George Russell. F1Technical’s senior author Balázs Szabó experiences on the season-closing race.

Verstappen had an amazing getaway firstly, however Charles Leclerc was adamant to overhaul the Dutchman on the opening lap, trying a number of overtaking strikes into Turns 1, 6 and 9.

In the meantime, McLaren’s Lando Norris bought previous George Russell on the primary lap, shifting as much as P4. Three laps later, the Briton charged his well beyond his team-mate Oscar Piastri and tried to shut in on second-placed Leclerc.

On Lap 6, Kevin Magnussen boxed for brand spanking new Hard tyres, rejoining the monitor in P20.

A lap later, Russell tried an overtaking transfer on Piastri into Turn 9, however the Australian fended off the assaults on the within line.

On the identical lap, AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo dived into the pits for his first cease after he was knowledgeable by his race engineer {that a} visor tear-off bought caught in one among his brake ducts.

On Lap 9, Russell did the identical transfer on Piastri than two excursions earlier, however he failed as soon as once more. However, two laps later, Piastri locked up into Turn 6, and Russell managed to get previous the previous F2 champion.

Fernando Alonso was the primary driver in the highest ten to field as he modified his mediums for hards.

The subsequent lap noticed Verstappen report some degradation to his entrance proper regardless of operating in free air. Following the battle between Piastri and Russell, Yuki Tsunoda additionally closed in on the McLaren driver.

On Lap 14, Piastri opted for his tyre change as he tried to cowl Alonso’s undercut. McLaren managed to vary the Australian’s tyres with a 2.7s cease, and he rejoined the monitor proper in entrance of Alonso, however managed to defend on his cool tyres.

The subsequent lap noticed Norris and Russell come in for tyre change. The McLaren driver had a sluggish cease with a 5.1-second tyre change, which enabled the Mercedes racer to get previous his rival.

In the meantime, Hamilton and Pierre Gasly made contact because the Frenchman locked up into Turn 6 and the Englishman slid straight into the again of him.

Hamilton and Ocon pitted on Lap 15 for recent Hards. The Briton’s entrance wing picked up harm, however Mercedes deemed it minor and didn’t change it throughout the pit cease.

Verstappen got here in on Lap 17 along with his cease lasting 2.9s. The Dutchman got here again in seventh place behind the Ferrari of Sainz, who was but to pit.

The subsequent lap noticed Leclerc pit from the lead, leaving Yuki Tsunoda in the lead. The Monegasque had an avarage cease of two.8s, however he solely rejoined the monitor forward of Russell, who confirmed how highly effective his undercut technique was.

On the identical lap, Verstappen breezed previous Sainz with solely Tsunoda and Stroll having been in entrance of the Dutchman. However, the three-time world champion picked off Stroll with Tsunoda coming in for recent tyres on Lap 23.

Verstappen discovered himself again on the entrance of the sector as Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff tried to encourage his driver Lewis Hamilton, claiming that the Briton was the second-fastest on the monitor.

On lap 28, Perez continued his cost by the sector and bought previous Piastri after having simply overtaken Fernando Alonso.

At the identical time, Sainz additionally labored his manner by the sector after his late pit cease. Lap 30 noticed Bottas pit with the Finn having turn out to be the final driver to field for brand spanking new tyres.

On lap 33, Norris boxed for brand spanking new hards with McLaren servicing him in simply 2.3s.

Russell wished to commit himself to a one-stop technique, however his race engineer Riccardo Musconi requested him to dive into the pits for brand spanking new tyres. McLaren’s and Mercedes’ pit cease urged Ferrari to reply, and serviced Leclerc’s automobile in simply 2.6s.

On Lap 39, Leclerc picked off the one-stopping Tsunoda as Alonso bought again previous Hamilton. While the stewards investigated the two-time world champion for driving erratically throughout his battle with Hamilton, the Spaniard averted a penalty.

Perez got here in into the pits on Lap 43. The Mexican got here again behind Tsunoda, however he picked off the Japanese driver simply.

On Lap 47, Alonso managed to get previous Sainz, who began to battle on his previous hards. On the subsequent lap, Perez closed into the again of Norris, and dived down the within into Turn 6. The pair touched, and Perez needed to give the place again as he went off the monitor.

The Mexican driver was handed a five-second penalty for inflicting a collision. Nevertheless, Perez managed to go previous Norris and began to search out Russell.

On Lap 54, Perez bought previous Russell into Turn 9, and tried to tug out 5 seconds on the Mercedes driver.

In the meantime, Alonso picked off Tsunoda for seventh as Sainz lastly dived into the pits to finish his necessary tyre change.

With Ferrari hoping to seal P2 in the Constructors’ Championship, Leclerc let Perez go previous in the hope that the Mexican may pull out the essential 5 seconds on Russell.

In the meantime, Hamilton closed in on Tsunoda, and overtook the AlphaTauri driver into Turn 9, however slid huge which enabled the Japanese driver to battle again.

At the entrance, Verstappen cruised to victory with Leclerc and Russell finishing the rostrum. Perez dropped again to P4 as a consequence of his penalty with Norris and Piastri ending in P5 and P6. Aston Martin’s Alonso ended the season with a P7 end on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Tsunoda fought for his group in the final race, however it was not sufficient for AlphaTauri to grab P7 in the Constructors’ Championship away from Williams. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant finish to the season for Tsunoda with a P8 in Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton confirmed flashes of sturdy tempo in the race, however he was not constant sufficient and needed to accept P9 in the top with Stroll citing the rear of the highest ten.