Max Verstappen Concludes Phenomenal Season with Victory at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Feb
Max Verstappen, in a triumphant finale to an extraordinary Formula One season, clinched his 19th victory of the year at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver’s dominating performance throughout the season has been nothing short of historic.
In a race that further solidified Verstappen’s dominance, the Dutch driver comfortably led from start to finish at the Yas Marina Circuit. This win propelled him to third place on the all-time list of career Formula One victories, boasting an impressive total of 54, trailing only Lewis Hamilton with 103 and Michael Schumacher with 91.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was the sole contender attempting to challenge Verstappen, albeit unsuccessfully, as the Red Bull driver secured his fourth consecutive win in Abu Dhabi.
Red Bull’s superiority was exemplified by Verstappen’s record-breaking season, accumulating 575 points and establishing the largest winning margin in a championship with a staggering 290 points ahead of teammate Sergio Perez. Reflecting on the season, Verstappen expressed emotion, acknowledging the significance of the moment.
Verstappen commented, “It was an incredible season. It was a bit emotional on the in-lap; it was the last time I was sitting in the car, which has, of course, given me a lot. It will be hard to do something similar again, but we definitely enjoyed this year.”
Red Bull’s supremacy led to Verstappen securing the drivers’ title in early October. While the prospect of winning every race faded with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz’s victory in Singapore, Red Bull sealed its second consecutive constructors’ championship in September, six races before the season’s conclusion.
Widely praised as one of the greatest cars in the sport’s history, Red Bull’s vehicle surpassed the success of the previous year’s model, winning 20 races in a single season at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen capped off the season with another milestone, becoming the first driver to lead more than 1,000 laps in a single season during the final race.
