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– Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc beat the Dutchman’s team-mate Sergio Perez to secure second in the championship.
– Leclerc, who was Verstappen’s title rival earlier this year before Ferrari’s season imploded in a flood of errors and reliability failures, held off Perez on divergent strategies to take second place.
– Sebastian Vettel’s final race ended in disappointment, the four-time champion bemoaning when he felt was a poor strategy from Aston Martin.
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– Vettel took the final point for 10th place after Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes retired from fourth place with three laps to go.
– Hamilton’s result means he has finished a season without a win for the first time in his career – ending a record only he held.
– Verstappen’s win was his 15th of 2022, extending the new record he has set this year for wins in a single season.
Max Verstappen completes a hat-trick of wins at Abu Dhabi, and notches a remarkable 15th first place of the season 👏#AbuDhabiGP #F1 https://t.co/R54yPG7gNk
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 20, 2022
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS AT YAS MARINA!!! 🏆
Leclerc holds off Perez to take second in the race and the drivers' championship 👏#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/b95pV4S3mC
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 20, 2022
– “It was a good race,” said Verstappen. “It was all about tyre management. I think we looked after the mediums quite well and then on the hard tyres managing until the end.
– “A 15th win of the season is unbelievable. It’s been really enjoyable to work with the whole team and to be able to achieve something like this. I know it is going to be hard to replicate but it is also very good motivation to try and do well again next year.”
🗣️ "Every season in #F1 is grueling but it truly has been a herculean effort from everyone this season."
The thoughts of Max, Checo and Christian after our 17th win 👇
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) November 20, 2022
