Abu Dhabi GP: Max Verstappen claims record-extending win as Mercedes hold off Ferrari in constructors battle
In the season finale, Max Verstappen wins a record-tying 19th victory of 2023; The Red Bull driver passes Sebastian Vettel in third place on the F1 all-time race winners list; Charles Leclerc of Ferrari is second, but George Russell comes in third to maintain Mercedes’s second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari in a thrilling race to finish second behind Verstappen’s Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, but it was insufficient to overcome a four-point deficit to Mercedes, who had George Russell in third and teammate Lewis Hamilton in ninth.
After instigating a late-race collision with Lando Norris, who finished fifth ahead of Oscar Piastri of McLaren, Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez was demoted to fourth place on the track.
Verstappen broke the record after winning the 22nd and last race of the year from pole position. This victory brought his season total to 54, surpassing Sebastian Vettel and putting only Michael Schumacher and Hamilton ahead of him.
Red Bull won every race this season, and the Dutchman, who secured his third consecutive title with six grands prix left, finished with a record 575 points, more than double that of his closest rival Perez.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finished seventh, and AlphaTauri’s strong eighth place was insufficient to move them up to seventh place among constructors, behind Williams.
As Aston Martin’s lackluster second half of the season came to a conclusion, teammate Lance Stroll completed the scoring.
Abu Dhabi GP result: Top 10
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
