Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s triple world champion, capped off a season marked by unprecedented dominance, securing his 19th win in 22 races at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The pole-to-flag triumph, a fourth consecutive victory under the Yas Marina floodlights, elevated the 26-year-old to third place in Formula One’s all-time winners’ list with 54 victories, trailing only Lewis Hamilton (103) and Michael Schumacher (91).
Sergio Perez, initially second, faced a post-race penalty, placing him behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell. Reflecting on the season, Verstappen, who led 1,000 racing laps and amassed a record 575 points, expressed the emotional significance of the final lap. He acknowledged the challenge of replicating such success but highlighted the joy of the journey.
Mercedes, enduring their first winless season since 2011, claimed the best-of-the-rest title behind Red Bull, who amassed 860 points to Mercedes’ 409 and Ferrari’s 406. McLaren secured fourth overall, with Lando Norris and rookie Oscar Piastri in the fifth and sixth positions, respectively.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso secured seventh place, edging out competitors like Leclerc, Norris, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz for fourth in the championship. Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri, finishing eighth, led a race for the first time, offering a memorable farewell for retiring team boss Franz Tost.
Despite the strong finish, McLaren’s points were not sufficient to surpass Williams in seventh place overall. Lewis Hamilton claimed the ninth spot, and Lance Stroll secured the final point for Aston Martin. The season’s culmination marked the end of an era for Verstappen, leaving a lasting impact on Formula One history.
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