The Dutchman led from pole and fended off three early challenges from Leclerc to open up a one second lead before Drag Reduction System (DRS) was enabled on lap three when Perez swept inside Hamilton for ninth and Norris passed Piastri for third, having already passed Russell.Īs the leaders all pitted for hards, Yuki Tsunoda took over on lap 18, giving Alpha Tauri and Tost a memorable moment, only the second time a Japanese driver had led a Formula One race. The top 12 cars started on medium compound tyres. The race began in hot conditions, with an air temperature of 27 degrees Celsius and the track cooling rapidly as the sun went down and the floodlights blazed on the Yas Marina Circuit. Leclerc, who slowed to allow Perez to pass him in the closing laps, said: “He had a penalty and we had to help him finish in front of George with the five seconds… but, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough… It’s a shame we finished third.” It means a huge amount to so many people back at the factory.” Russell said: “It was really tense at the end as the tyres were dropping off, but it’s a massive relief to bring the car home P3. This is the perfect way to end our extraordinary season 👏 I’m extremely grateful for all of the hard work that’s gone into this year by each and everyone of you involved & 🙌 To win 19 races in a season is just incredible 👏 It’s a privilege to be… /vOkhVPyD0k “I felt quite emotional on the in-lap as it’s the last time in this car that has given me such a lot. “An incredible season,” said Verstappen, who also paid tribute to retirement-bound Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost who nurtured his early F1 career. Max Verstappen becomes the first driver to clock up 1,000 laps led in a season 🤯 Verstappen ended the season as the only driver to complete every lap of the season, more than 1 000 laps led, and also broke Jim Clark’s 1963 record for the highest per centage of laps led in a season. Norris was fifth ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Russell's P3 and Hamilton's P9 means Mercedes clinch P2 in the constructors' championship by three points #F1 #AbuDhabiGP /qgvZbeXAJD

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