Sunday Debrief: ‘Mission complete’ for Verstappen in Abu Dhabi

It’s Verstappen all over, as he takes his 7th consecutive win and 19th of the season, a perfect finish for a season full of new records set by the 3-time reigning world champion. Mercedes also took a victory if their own, as they battelled to the line with Ferrari for P2 for the constructors world championship.

 

image: motorsport.com

Verstappen lined up on pole for the twelfth and final time this season, Leclerc lining up alongside the world champion on the front row. Piastri completed his rookie season lining up ahead of his teammate on the second row, starting the race from P3. Hamilton for the 2nd time in the last 3 races, qualified outside of the top 10 in P11. Another shock is from Ferrari, who are currently battling with Mercedes for P2 in the championship, Sainz failing to get out of Q3 after a difficult weekend, from crashing out in FP2 to being knocked out of qualifying by Perez, Perez qualifying P9 for the race.

 

Into turn 1, Verstappen held on to the lead of the race, Leclerc battling for the lead over the first few laps before Verstappen broke away. Behind the front 3, Norris made a move on Russell, moving up into P4 behind his teammate. The two McLarens swapping places on lap 5.

image: motorsport.com

Ricciardo made an early pit stop on lap 8 after the team picked up a bit of tear off on the brake duct. Meanwhile on track, Russell and Piastri squabbled for places, Russell eventually getting the move done on lap 11 with the help of DRS on the start/finish straight. Piastri dropping back close to Tsunoda in P6, pitted on lap 14, followed by Norris on lap 15. Russell following Norris into the pits and overtaking Norris on the way out, McLaren with a. nightmare of a pit stop.

 

Hamilton, meanwhile, on lap 15 making contact with Gasly. Gasly locking up, Hamilton touching the back of the Alpine, causing damage to his front wing. Hamilton pitting on lap 16, the team however, not changing the front wing, sending the Mercedes back out on a set of hard tyres.

 

Verstappen leading the race, came into the pits on lap 17, promoting Leclerc to the lead, as he re-joins the track in P7. Leclerc pitting a lap later coming out behind the Bull in P5, with a new race leader for the season. Tsunoda leading a Grand Prix for the first time this season, leading for 6 laps before boxing on lap 23, promoting Verstappen back to the lead.

 

Norris struggling on the tyres, came back into the pits on lap 34. To protect position and as a potential undercut on Leclerc for the battle in the constructors’ championship, Russell followed Norris into the pits on lap 35. Leclerc responding quick by pitting on lap 26, staying ahead of Russell, as the Ferrari joins in P6, Russell back in P8.

 

Hamilton pitting on lap 36, getting picked up by stewards for a pit stop infringement, to be investigated after the race.

 

image: motorsport.com

Hamilton in the battel for the constructors, passes Sainz on lap 48. Sainz yet to pit for a second tyre compound comes into the pits on lap 57 from P10, finishing the race outside of the points. In attempt to keep the championship alive, Leclerc gave up P2 to Perez on the final lap, knowing Perez was yet to pick up a 5-second penalty. Leclerc wanting to hold back Russell, but as they crossed the line, Russell finished 3 seconds behind Perez, enough to give him P3 for the race and P2 for the team as Mercedes finish the constructor’s championship ahead of Ferrari.

 

But as they crossed the line it was Verstappen to take the win in a season that was Verstappen all over. An incredible season for Red Bull in Max Verstappen, Verstappen winning 19 out of 22 races with the only other race winners for the season being Perez and Sainz for Ferrari. ‘Mission Complete’ spoke Christian Horner over the team radio, the words to mirror a truly remarkable season for Red Bull.