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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in commanding style on Sunday (Monday NZT) for his second win of the season and the tenth of his career.
He finished 16 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas and 18.4 seconds ahead of world champion Lewis Hamilton, as Red Bull enjoyed exceptional and significant success over both Mercedes cars.
“It was really nice today. We did everything right, ”Verstappen said.
“I saw them [Mercedes] They were falling behind so I could take it a little easier. It was a very strong race for the team. I will enjoy the podium and then I will enjoy going home. ”
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He’s earned accolades during a season when he was the only driver to upset Mercedes, even with a slower car.
“Absolutely clinical,” team manager Christian Horner told Verstappen on team radio.
Hamilton praised Verstappen and expects him to challenge more strongly in 2021.
“Obviously we have a fight on our hands next year, for sure,” said Hamilton, who was driving after recovering from the coronavirus.
“It was a very tough race for me physically. All year I have been physically well, but today I was definitely not. I’m glad it’s finished. “
Alexander Albon completed a good race for Red Bull by finishing fourth ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, but it might not be enough for Albon to keep his place next year.
The McLaren garage cheered enthusiastically after taking third place in the constructors’ championship ahead of Racing Point.
The 23-year-old Verstappen had secured a brilliant pole position on Saturday (Sunday NZT) and had made a good start while Bottas held Hamilton at bay. The world champion looked out of shape and started backing up after a few laps, almost getting caught by Albon in the final two laps.
Peter Fox / Getty Images
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen celebrates his victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his second race of the season.
The race was briefly delayed when the safety car exited after Sergio Perez’s Racing Point pulled to the side of the track with an engine failure on lap 10. When he restarted a few laps later, Verstappen drove away from Bottas cleanly and posted the fastest lap for the second time in 15 laps.
Midway through the 55-lap race at the Yas Marina circuit, Verstappen looked comfortable leading Bottas by about six seconds and Hamilton by nine and then widening the gap under the spotlight.
“Red Bull was too fast today, surprisingly fast,” said Bottas. “Being beaten by Red Bull in the last race of the season motivates us even more to work harder during the winter.”
Hamilton won 11 races of the 16 in which he participated and finished with 347 points, compared to 223 for second-place Bottas and 214 for third-place Verstappen.
Hamilton missed last weekend’s Sakhir GP in Bahrain after catching Covid-19, denying the seven-time F1 champion a chance to match Sebastian Vettel’s record of 13 wins in a single season, set. with Red Bull in 2013.
Bryn Lennon / Getty Images
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dominated at the Yas Marina circuit, finishing 16 seconds ahead of runner-up Valtteri Bottas.
Several drivers were last competing for their teams and possibly in F1.
Perez drove brilliantly to win the Sakhir GP in Bahrain last weekend, but is without a seat next year, and his career ended in frustration with his father wringing his hands as he watched from the team garage. Despite the disappointing finish, he secured fourth in the drivers’ championship.
“It’s sad to leave the team like this, some of them were crying at the end,” said the Mexican driver. “Whatever comes next, I’ll be ready for it.”
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, who is also out of F1 now, was ranked 18th.
Vettel’s last race for Ferrari saw him finish 14th. The four-time F1 champion will replace Pérez at Racing Point when he becomes Aston Martin next year.
McLaren driver Carlos Sainz Jr, who will replace Vettel at Ferrari next year, finished sixth, while Daniel Ricciardo, who will replace him at McLaren in 2021, crossed seventh and posted the fastest lap in the last for Renault.
