Track Torque: Max reigns supreme
He went from pole position straight into the lead, despite determined efforts by runner-up Charles Leclerc, and finally won the race by a significant 18 seconds.
Max Verstappen did not blot his copy book for the last race of the year in Abu Dhabi under the lights.
He went from pole position straight into the lead, despite determined efforts by runner-up Charles Leclerc, and finally won the race by a significant 18 seconds.
Leclerc very cleverly tried to improve Sergio Perez’s chances by letting him through, but this was not enough to give Perez third place and it was George Russell who made it onto the podium in his Mercedes.
Perez therefore finished fourth behind the Mercedes and this meant that Mercedes were second in the constructors’ championship.
Results: 1. Red Bull 860 points; 2 Mercedes 409 points; 3 Ferrari 406 points; 4 McLaren 302 points; 5 Aston Martin 280 points.
But back to the race… behind Perez was the first of the two very quick McLarens, driven by Lando Norris in fifth place and teammate Oscar Piastri in sixth position.
Eight seconds further back was Fernando Alonso, in the Aston Martin, followed by the hard-chaising Yuki Tsunoda in the Alphatauri Honda in eighth place.
Tsunoda was voted driver of the day for his hard-charging antics.
Next up, after an unlucky race, was the second Mercedes of Sir Lewis Hamilton.
He really should have been higher up, but actions did not allow it.
In the final point scoring position was Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin, while the Alpine Renaults were 12th and 13th and Alexander Albon 14th in the ever-improving Williams Mercedes.
He was also unfortunate and should have done better.
The season has now come to an end and all except Red Bull will be licking their wounds as they prepare for the new 2024 season, just three months away.
Obviously, Red Bull will try and do even better with the brand new RB 20, which is still in the making, but I expect Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin to be even closer in 2024, such is the spirit of progress and determination in the magical world of Formula One.
Let us all wait patiently for testing results during the third week of February 2024. To all enthusiasts I wish a wonderful festive season and peaceful year ahead in 2024.
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