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Verstappen wins in front of the two Mercedes cars
© APA (AFP)
Once again, the Mercedes drivers were unbeatable in the final World Cup standings of the 2020 Formula 1 season, but Max Verstappen clearly won the final. The Dutchman celebrated a start-finish victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. It was the second success in 2020 and the 10th overall in the Red Bull driver’s career. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) and his Mercedes colleague Lewis Hamilton (GBR), the world champion, were more than 15 seconds away.
In the World Cup qualifying, Verstappen remained third, nine points behind Bottas, but he has taken a lot of positives in the new season. “The good start was important,” said the 23-year-old, who had achieved pole position for the first time this season. “So it was a pleasure. We did everything right.” It was a very strong race, said Verstappen happily.
For the sixth time in a row, the best of the classification triumphed at the Yas Marina Circuit. Verstappen completed 55 laps like clockwork and continually expanded his lead. Rivals in the top trio, who were on the podium together in 13 of the 17 races, had to acknowledge the superiority of Verstappen and his race car on this day in relatively cool temperatures of just over 20 degrees. Bottas spoke of a “solid” career. “I couldn’t have gotten more out of the car, I’m surprised the gap is so clear,” said the Finn, who will also drive for the official team in 2021.
Success brat Hamilton, who screwed this year’s number of GP victories to 95 (record) and tied record champion Michael Schumacher’s seven titles, climbed to his 164th podium on his return after the lost Sakhir GP due to a corona infection. “If you look at the last week, I am happy that I was able to drive,” said the 35-year-old. He’s not 100 percent, he can still feel his lungs, and he takes a long time to recover. “Physically it was the hardest race for me this year.”
Hamilton was unwilling to congratulate Red Bull and Verstappen. “Red Bull was out of reach this weekend, it is good that Max has caught up. For 2021 I would like to see a duel with an equal team,” said Hamilton, who will probably sign the new contract with Mercedes and the director of the Toto Wolff team shortly. becomes. “I hope we can start this week and finish it at Christmas,” said the Englishman.
Verstappen ended the emirate’s successful “Silver Arrows” series, which had lasted since 2014. Prior to that, Sebastian Vettel had won the Red Bull in the Persian Gulf. Seven years later, the four-time German world champion had a great achievement in his 118th and final race with Ferrari. This race is “a little more emotional” than usual, he will give it his all “for the guys in the garage,” Vettel announced before the start.
But for the 33-year-old only 14th place remained before moving to Aston Martin, Racing Point’s successor team, immediately ahead of Britain’s George Russell. Daniel Ricciardo, however, said goodbye to Renault with the fastest lap of the race at McLaren.
Sergio Pérez, who won the Sakhir GP a week ago in Bahrain and will lose the cockpit at Racing Point in 2021, withdrew due to a defect. McLaren, however, scored through Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jun. in fifth and sixth place and displaced Racing Point by seven points from third in the constructors’ championship behind Mercedes and Red Bull.
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