Yahoo Autos Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Verstappen cruises to victory as Leclerc prevents Red Bull one-two
03:23 PM
Report
Verstappen reigns supreme in Abu Dhabi
It could not have felt more different to 12 months ago. After last year’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, chaos and confusion reigned for five hours post-race as the FIA’s stewards heard various protests and decided the fate of the 2021 title.
Team members, media, drivers, assorted flunkies, milled about in the paddock, trying to make sense of what we had just witnessed. The repercussions of that race rumbled on all winter and are still being felt even now.
This time around, the atmosphere was flat by comparison. We had the same winner; Max Verstappen taking the 15th victory of a record-breaking year. But there was no controversy over the result. Red Bull’s double world champion was miles ahead of the field, as he has been for most of this season.
The drivers all said their bit afterwards and then shuffled off into the desert night, the attention of the sporting world long since having switched to nearby Qatar where the opening fixture of the Fifa World Cup was being played.
So ended the 2022 campaign; one which promised much, with Hamilton gunning for revenge after having that eighth title so cruelly snatched from his grasp, and Ferrari expected to challenge for once. But one which ultimately fell way short of expectations, Mercedes producing a dog of a car, and Ferrari imploding as they so often do.
With the title long since wrapped up, the main area of interest heading into yesterday’s race was the battle for second spot in the drivers’ championship between Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
And the ingredients were reasonably spicy. The two men began yesterday’s race tied on 290 points, with Perez annoyed not to have a couple more; Verstappen refusing a direct order from his team to gift his sixth spot at the previous weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix to his teammate.
The fallout from that decision was messy, with allegations that Verstappen was still angry at Perez because he suspected the Mexican had crashed on purpose in qualifying in Monaco back in May in order to secure pole – an allegation Perez denied.
Whether he did or did not, the team orders row did nothing to help soften Verstappen’s image and he found himself booed by sections of the crowd at Yas Marina all weekend.
Seeking to make amends, Verstappen gave Perez a tow in qualifying on Saturday, helping the Mexican to second spot on the grid, one place ahead of Leclerc.
It did not prove enough of an advantage. While Verstappen roared away and won the race at a canter, Leclerc made a one-stopper work for him to claim second spot. Perez, who stopped twice, ran out of time to catch back up to the Ferrari, finishing 1.3sec behind in the final reckoning.
There was the potential for Verstappen to slow at the front and try to help Perez by backing Leclerc up. But the double world champion’s charitable instincts only extended so far.
“It is how it is,” Perez said. “At the end of the day, I’ve got to be happy. I gave it my all. As a team we gave it all through the season, and I’m sure we will come back stronger next year. Time to relax a bit, play some golf, get the handicap down.”
There was disappointment, too, for Mercedes, as Formula One prepares to go into its winter hibernation.
One week after his maiden race win in Brazil, George Russell could only finish fifth after a bungled pit stop saw him released into traffic, incurring a five-second penalty, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire from fourth place just a few laps from the finish after developing a hydraulic issue.
It meant the seven-time champion, who had a lively battle with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz on the opening lap, ended the season without a victory for the first time in his entire career.
There were two other major storylines to resolve. McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo finished ninth in what may have been his final F1 race as he prepares to rejoin Red Bull as their reserve driver next season. And Sebastian Vettel finished 10th in what was definitely his final race after his team Aston Martin opted for a one-stopper.
The sight of the four-time world champion doing a few doughnuts for the crowds at the finish was fun. But it was nothing like the fireworks we had last year. The hope is next year we will get the championship we were promised this season.
03:16 PM
Danke Seb
That concludes our coverage of the 2022 season. It's been a dramatic and eventful year dominated by Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
They are the team to beat for 2023 and we wait to see whether Mercedes and Ferrari can build cars strong enough to compete.
And we say goodbye to the man below after a brilliant career.
03:08 PM
When does the new season start?
It's 95 days to the start of winter testing and the 2023 season begins on March 5.
02:59 PM
Vettel farewell
Overall a big day, and a big thank you to all the support. So many flags and so many smiling faces, which has been very special, very nice.
I’m sure I’m going to miss it more than I understand right now. I had a nice battle with Daniel but I just couldn’t get close enough. But I think it’s nice to have fought the last couple of laps with him, with both of us finishing in the points. It’s been a big weekend
I hope to pass on to some of the other drivers to carry on some of the good work. It's great to see that we have the power inspire you with what we do and what we say.
I think there are far bigger and far more important things than racing in circles, but obviously it's what we love, through that if we can transfer some of the really important values that's big.
Thank you for the support, thank you all the messages, the letters, and all the love in general. I will miss that. it's been an absolute joy throughout my career, so thank you.
02:54 PM
New for this year
The podium finishers receive a medal, which they will keep so they have a personal record of their achievement.
Trophies tend to be kept by the teams so the medals according to the FIA will be "a unique personal memento to commemorate their outstanding achievement".
02:50 PM
Verstappen reacts
It was all about tyre management. I think we looked after the mediums quite well. And then on the hard tyres, I was looking after them from lap one until the end, but incredible to win here again.
15th win of the season is unbelievable. It's been really enjoyable this year, working with the whole team to be able to achieve something like this this year. I know it's going to be hard to replicate something this but it's also very good motivation to try and do well next year.
02:46 PM
Leclerc reacts
I was 110 per cent from the first lap to the last. We had the perfect race. I knew the only way for us to beat Checo was with a different strategy and playing with time management, which we did really well. We made the one-stop work so I am really happy.
I really hope next year we can make a step forward and fight for the championship but considering where we were it is a step forward. We still need to work on race pace as we tend to struggle on Sunday but we will push during the winter break.
02:43 PM
Perez reacts
It is how it is. Sometimes everything can be really close. At the end of the day, I’ve got to be happy. I gave it all, as a team we gave it all through the season, and I’m sure we will come back stronger next year.
We had great moments, great battling. I think I struggled a bit this year in terms of managing the tyres in the race, so hopefully that can be something that we will improve for next year, and generally just be a bit stronger.
02:39 PM
Delight for Leclerc and Ferrari
Yes baby, we got it. Good job guys....good race, really good race
02:37 PM
DONUT TIME
For one last time, Vettel comes down the home straight and ends his career with a series of donuts on the start/finish line to the delight of the crowd.
02:35 PM
VETTEL FINISHES 10TH
Old Red Bull team-mates Ricciardo and Vettel battle for ninth place but the former gets the job done in the end.
Tremendous fight back from Vettel after dropping to the back.
02:32 PM
VERSTAPPEN WINS
15 wins for the season for the world champion.
Leclerc holds off Perez for second place and second in the drivers championship.
02:30 PM
Lap 58: Onto the final lap
Leclerc leads Perez by 1.9s as we enter the final lap of the 2022 season.
02:28 PM
Lap 57: Hamilton retires
First mechanical failure of the season for Mercedes. Leclerc leads Perez by 2s.
02:27 PM
Lap 56: Sainz passes Hamilton
Hydraulic issue for Hamilton. Sainz passes through easily. That looks like the end of the road for him.
02:25 PM
Lap 55: Thrilling finish
This could be a very dramatic end. Any chance of a safety car?
3.6s lead for Leclerc over Perez.
1.8s lead for Hamilton over Sainz.
02:24 PM
Lap 54: Five laps to go
4.6s lead for Leclerc over Perez.
2.9s lead for Hamilton over Sainz.
02:22 PM
Lap 53: Black and white flag for Hamilton
Hamilton has exceeded track limits too many times and one more will result in a time penalty.
02:20 PM
Lap 51: Battle for 2nd and 4th
Leclerc vs Perez & Hamilton vs Sainz.
Those are the two main fights right now.
Verstappen has this race wrapped up. Impeccable drive.
02:18 PM
Lap 50: Stroll passes Vettel for 10th
Vettel on team radio:
How did we get the strategy so wrong?
02:15 PM
Lap 49: 10 laps to go
Verstappen on team radio:
The tyres are good. Just tell Checo to go full send, the tyres will be fine.
02:14 PM
Lap 47: Perez gets Hamilton
Perez learns his lesson from the previous lap and passes Hamilton to move up to third.
He will now chase now Leclerc, who is 9s down the road.
Sainz is now hunting down Hamilton, who earlier warned his team not to leave him on a one stop...
02:12 PM
Lap 45: Perez catching Hamilton
We can't lose time here. Catch and pass Hamilton.
Perez is urged to pass Hamilton by his team. He gets DRS and gets the job done. But Hamilton retakes the place after Perez locks up his breaks.
This is good news for Leclerc, who remains on a one stop.
02:10 PM
Lap 44: Perez starting to catch Leclerc
Perez, in fourth, is taking a second a lap out of Leclerc.
Ferrari tell Leclerc that they think they will be overtaken by the Red Bull as things stand.
02:06 PM
Lap 42: Schumacher penalty
Five-second time penalty for Schumacher for causing a collision with Latifi.
Judging by the replays, the Haas driver can have no complaints.
02:03 PM
Lap 40: Latifi and Schumacher clash
Latifi and Schumacher tangle and make contact. Both are able to continue but face an investigation.
Sainz and Russell pit. Russell serves his five second penalty.
02:02 PM
Lap 39: Perez given rallying call
Expect Leclerc to go to the end. Reel him in.
Hamilton now in DRS range of Russell. In this phase of the race it is the seven time champion who looks strong. Perez is setting the fastest laps at the moment.
01:59 PM
Lap 38: Ferrari on the attack
The Ferrari's seems happy on the hard tyres and appear ready to go to the end.
Perez is 18s behind and in sixth place. Leclerc is second and Sainz is third.
01:58 PM
Lap 36: Red Bull problems?
Verstappen is told to increase tyre management.
Hamilton is closing the gap on Russell, it is now less than two seconds. With Russell's five second penalty, Hamilton should finish ahead of his team-mate.
01:54 PM
Lap 34: Perez pits
Quick 2.4s stop from Red Bull. Leclerc stays out.
Perez now needs to go quickly to stay ahead of the Ferrari.
01:52 PM
Lap 32: Vettel on the charge
Vettel is making his way up from the back. He's now 15th.
Perez pitted earlier than Leclerc. He leads the Ferrari driver by 1.5s.
A reminder that those two are battling to finish second in the drivers championship.
All to play for!
01:48 PM
Lap 30: Perez wants Verstappen to speed up
I'm being held up by Max.