ABU DHABI — Two-time world champion
Max Verstappen claimed a record-extending 15th win this year with a “sublime”
performance for Red Bull in Sunday’s tight and strategic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
as Sebastian Vettel headed into retirement with a point.
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The 25-year-old Verstappen dominated from start to
finish, but he was unable to assist his Red Bull team-mate
Sergio Perez in his
bid to beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and take second place behind him in the
drivers’ title championship.
Leclerc, driving with great precision and awareness,
made his one-stop strategy succeed by resisting Perez, on fresher tires after
two stops, in the closing laps to confirm Ferrari finished second in the
constructors’ contest as he did in the drivers’.
Verstappen’s win was a third in succession in Abu
Dhabi and the 35th of his career. His engineer came over the team radio telling
the Dutch driver his twilight drive at the Yas Marina circuit had been
“sublime”.
“It’s incredible to win again here,” said the Red
Bull driver.
Leclerc clinched second spot after “a perfect race”.
“I knew the only way to beat ‘Checo’ was with tire
management and strategy, so we had a one stop and it really worked.”
“I really hope next year we can do a step forward in
the championship. Compared to last season we’re there so now we’ll push on in
the winter break to catch Red Bull,” said the man from Monaco.
‘Stronger next year’
Perez came third in the race and the championship.
“It is how it is sometimes,” said the Mexican.
“Everything can be really close. At the end of the day, I have got to be happy.
I gave it all and as a team we gave it all through the season and I am sure we
will come back stronger next year.”
Carlos Sainz came home fourth in the second Ferrari
ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, Lando Norris of McLaren, Esteban Ocon of
Alpine and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin.
Daniel Ricciardo finished ninth in the second
McLaren and retirement-bound four-time champion Vettel was 10th in his final
race, for Aston Martin.
“I wish it would have been a couple more points,”
said the retiring German driver.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who ran in third
despite struggling with his Mercedes for much of the race, retired in the
closing laps with hydraulics problems.
Hamilton, who lost out on an eighth world title in
last year’s controversial climax on this track, has ended a season for the
first time without a win.
After another hot day, the contest began with
temperatures falling from 28 degrees as Alpha Tauri gave the departing Pierre
Gasly a guard of honor as Aston Martin offered Vettel a cake ahead of his final
race.
Verstappen made a clean start from pole and by lap
15 led by 5.7 ahead of Perez, who was 1.3 clear of Leclerc as the first round
of pit stops began.
As Perez, Sainz, and Russell pitted again Verstappen
continued to dominate from Leclerc and Hamilton, all three on ageing rubber
before Perez fought through to regain third on lap 46.
With ten laps to go, he was nine seconds adrift of Leclerc,
setting up a tense finale as he sought to stay ahead of the charging
Mexican on
worn tires as Hamilton slowed and retired with a hydraulics problem.
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