F1, GP Abu Dhabi: Verstappen dominates, Leclerc finishes second in the world championship

Few surprises in the Abu Dhabi GP, the finale of the 2022 season. Max Verstappen dominates, ahead of Leclerc who is second in the World Championship.

It was practically impossible to repeat the emotions felt at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, when Max Verstappen And Lewis Hamilton they played the world championship on equal points on the last round of the season. The attention on this year’s race was therefore all aimed at the fight for second place in the championship between Charles Leclerc And Sergio Perezwith the titles already awarded a few races to Max Verstappen and Red Bull, and the farewell of an iconic driver like Sebastian Vettel.

It ends with yet another domination by the Dutchman, who extends the record streak of victories in a season to 15. Behind him, an excellent Leclerc who therefore consoles himself with the title of Vice-World Championhoping to do even better in 2023. Beaten Sergio Perez, finished third.

Behind them are Sainz and Russell, followed by Norris, Ocon, Stroll, Ricciardo and his own Vettel to complete the top ten. An exciting last lap for the German driver, culminating in a spectacular greeting to the public with the classic “donuts” on the track.

The season ends badly instead Lewis Hamiltonnot only for not being able to take even one win in the whole championship, first time in his career, but also for being forced to retire a few laps from the end.

F1, GP Abu Dhabi: how the last race went

At the start, the first three start well with Verstappen, Perez and Leclerc to pace. So so instead the start of Carlos Sainz who is overtaken by an aggressive Lewis Hamilton. The English driver was then forced to give the Spaniard back his position for having cut the same chicane that had seen him protagonist with Max Verstappen last year.

The rest of the race is then a game of chess. He fights a lot in the rear, while in front it is an absolute domination of Red Bull with Max Verstappen who does what he wants. Slightly more struggling, as usual, Sergio Perezwhich in the first part still seems to be able to hold the second position against an extraordinary Charles Leclerc.

The turning point comes on the thirty-fourth lap: Perez stops for his pit stop, Leclerc continues and resists until the last rounddespite the return of the Mexican who comes in, but not enough to try the attack.

For the rest, Hamilton retired with two laps to go due to a technical problem for his Mercedes.

this theorder of arrival of the top ten:

1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
2. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari at 8.7 seconds
3. Sergio Perez – Red Bull 10 seconds behind
4. Carlos Sainz – Ferrari at 24.8 seconds
5. George Russell – Mercedes at 35.8 seconds
6. Lando Norris – McLaren at 56.2 seconds
7. Esteban Ocon – Alpine at 57.2 seconds
8. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin at 1 minute 16.9 seconds
9. Daniel Ricciardo – McLaren at 1 minute 23.2 seconds
10. Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin at 1 minute 23.8 seconds

These instead final standings for drivers:

1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 454 points (World Champion)
2. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 308 points
3. Sergio Perez – Red Bull – 305 points
4. George Russell – Mercedes – 275 points
5. Carlos Sainz – Ferrari – 246 points
6. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – 240 points
7. Lando Norris – McLaren – 122 points
8. Esteban Ocon – Alpine – 92 points
9. Fernando Alonso – Alpine – 81 points
10. Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo – 49 points
11. Daniel Ricciardo – McLaren – 37 points
12. Sebastian Vettel – Aston Martin – 37 points
13. Kevin Magnussen – Haas – 25 points
14. Pierre Gasly – AlphaTauri – 23 points
15. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin – 18 points
16. Mick Schumacher – Haas – 12 points
17. Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri – 12 points
18. Zhou – Alfa Romeo – 6 points
19. Alex Albon – Williams – 4 points
20. Nicholas Latifi – Williams – 2 points
21. Nick De Vries – Williams – 2 points
22. Nico Hulkenberg – Aston Martin – 0 points

And finally the manufacturers ranking:

1. Red Bull – 759 points (World Champion)
2. Ferrari – 554 points
3. Mercedes – 515 points
4. Alpine Renault – 173 points
5. McLaren Mercedes – 159 points
6. Alfa Romeo Ferrari – 55 points
7. Aston Martin Mercedes – 55 points
8. Haas Ferrari – 37 points
9. AlphaTauri RBPT – 35 points
10. Williams Mercedes – 8 points

The Formula One circus is preparing to face one last test session before going into winter break in view of 2023. The first race of the next season will be in Bahrain on March 5, 2023: Will it be a three-way fight between Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari? For the show, we sure hope that’s the case.