F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix LIVE: Race results as Max Verstappen wins season finale
Follow all the reaction from the final grand prix of the 2023 Formula 1 season at the Yas Marina Circuit
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Max Verstappen ended the most dominant season in Formula One history with another victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Mercedes clung on to second place in the constructors’ championship by the skin of their teeth – and a £10milllion cash boost.
Verstappen - who became the first man to lead 1,000 laps in a single F1 season - failed to triumph at just three of the 22 rounds staged, and his latest win takes him to 54 for his career, leaving only Lewis Hamilton (103 wins) and Michael Schumacher (91) ahead of him.
The Dutchman finished 17 seconds clear of team-mate Sergio Perez but the Red Bull driver was demoted to fourth following a five-second penalty for a collision with Lando Norris.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was promoted to second with Mercedes’ George Russell third. Lewis Hamilton finished ninth in the other black-liviried machine with Mercedes three points clear of Ferrari in the standings to land a £105million reward, rather than £95m.
Follow reaction from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with The Independent
Max Verstappen extends his lead to Charles Leclerc (Lap 32/58)
Max Verstappen just dominating once again out front: his lead to Charles Leclerc is now 6.8 seconds.
George Russell is 2.2 seconds off Leclerc, while Lando Norris a full two seconds behind Russell.
There’s now only one car within DRS of the car in front - Ocon on Ricciardo in the battle for 11th.
Race just settling down into a routine now.
Toto Wolff to Lewis Hamilton:
“Fastest car on track now.”
Hamilton up to P8. There’s good race-pace in this Mercedes car on this Yas Marina Circuit!
Russell inching closer to Leclerc in second, too.
Yuki Tsunoda pits (Lap 23/58)
Fun over. Yuki Tsunoda pits - 2.5 seconds - and the AlphaTauri driver comes out in 12th place... but should be zooming through the field from now on.
Top-10 is restored to the usual order now.
Top-10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, Norris, Piastri, Alonso, Perez, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Tsunoda
Verstappen’s gap to Leclerc out in front: 4.7 seconds.
The frontrunners all pit! (Lap 18/58)
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc come in - and the Red Bull now has a three-second lead!
And who now leads the race? Yuki Tsunoda, who is yet to pit!
Lance Stroll, who also hasn’t pitted, is in second - followed by Verstappen, Sainz (yet to pit) and Leclerc.
George Russell overtakes Lando Norris in the pits! (Lap 15/58)
A nightmare for McLaren!
A slow 5.1 sec pit stop sees Lando Norris fall behind George Russell, in what in reality was P3 in the standings.
Norris does get out, just, in front of his team-mate Oscar Piastri though.
Pit stops all over the field now.
George Russell takes fourth from Oscar Piastri (Lap 13/58)
Valiant defence from Oscar Piastri, but eventually the Mercedes’ superior pace comes through down the second back straight, with DRS - Russell up to fourth!
Sergio Perez is up to eighth, cruising past Pierre Gasly, while Charles Leclerc just keeping in touch with Max Verstappen at the front - 1.3 secs.
Top-10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Piastri, Tsunoda, Perez, Gasly, Hamilton, Ocon
Fernando Alonso the first of the frontrunners to pit - the Aston Martin comes out down in 18th.
Oscar Piastri holds off George Russell (Lap 8/58)
It looked like George Russell was through around the outside of Oscar Piastri - but the Aussie does brilliantly to keep fourth place with some rapid acceleration on the inside line!
How long can the McLaren hold off the Mercedes though?
At the front, the gap remains at 1.5 seconds. Can Charles Leclerc, perhaps, haul in the Red Bull out front?
Throughout the field, a big old DRS train is forming throughout the pack - a typical feature of this Yas Marina track.
Lando Norris takes third place from his team-mate (Lap 4/58)
Hell of a start from Lando!
He’s now up to third, quicker than his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, and now has Charles Leclerc in his sights.
At the front, Max Verstappen has opened up a 1.5 sec lead.
Top-10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Russell, Tsunoda, Alonso, Gasly, Perez, Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton down to P10, giving up the position to Sergio Perez. The Mercedes man went wide at turn 1 on the first lap, so perhaps was told to let Perez by.
Lights out in Abu Dhabi!
It’s a decent start from both man at the start - but Max Verstappen holds off Charles Leclerc!
But the Ferrari man comes back into turn 6 and almost makes a move stick - but the Red Bull keeps its nose in front!
So close for the Monegasque!
Further back, Lando Norris has overtaken George Russell for fourth, while Lewis Hamilton is up to ninth from 11th!
Formation lap!
So for the final time in 2023, Max Verstappen leads the pack around at the start of the race for the formation lap.
The top-12 all on medium tyres. Carlos Sainz a notable name on hard tyres in 16th.
Here we go then! Can Charles Leclerc get a jump on Max Verstappen into turn one?!
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments