Abu Dhabi GP: Max Verstappen claims record-extending win as Mercedes hold off Ferrari in constructors battle

Max Verstappen claims record-extending 19th win of 2023 in season finale; Red Bull driver moves clear of Sebastian Vettel in third on F1’s all-time list of race winners; Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc second but George Russell takes third to keep Mercedes second in Constructors’ Championship

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Max Verstappen wins yet another Grand Prix to close the curtains on the 2023 F1 season.

World champion Max Verstappen capped his historically dominant 2023 Formula 1 campaign by claiming victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to take sole ownership of third on the sport’s all-time list of race winners.

In a dramatic finish to decide second behind Verstappen’s Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, Charles Leclerc took second for Ferrari but it was not enough to overturn a four-point deficit to Mercedes, for whom George Russell took third and team-mate Lewis Hamilton ninth.

Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez finished second on the track, but was demoted to fourth by a five-second penalty for causing a late-race collision with Lando Norris, who came fifth ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen controlled the 22nd and final race of the year from pole position to claim a record-extending 19th win of the season, taking his overall victory tally to 54, moving him beyond Sebastian Vettel and leaving just Hamilton and Michael Schumacher ahead.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sergio Perez bumps into Lando Norris, sending him off track at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Dutchman, who sealed his third successive title with six grands prix remaining, ends the season with a record total of 575 points, more than double his nearest challenger Perez, with Red Bull winning all but one race.

Fernando Alonso took seventh for Aston Martin, with Yuki Tsunoda’s impressive eighth place not quite enough to lift AlphaTauri above Williams for seventh in the constructors’ standing.

Alonso’s team-mate Lance Stroll rounded out the points, as Aston Martin’s underwhelming second half of the season ended with them 22 points back from fourth-placed constructor McLaren.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

After a lock up by Pierre Gasly, Lewis Hamilton made contact with the Alpine driver, causing damage to his front wing

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

More to follow…

24 races in 2024! Watch every round of next season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29-March 2. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW