Max Verstappen secured his third consecutive Formula One title nearly two months ago in Qatar, but there was no slowing down for the Dutch driver. He dominated every race since, culminating in a stellar year with a record-breaking 19th victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
Verstappen’s relentless approach stems from his upbringing, as he emphasized, “I can’t come into a race weekend not giving my all. My mindset didn’t change after winning the championship. I always try to do the best I can and winning is great. Why would I not want to win?”
The Abu Dhabi GP marked a significant milestone for Verstappen, who surpassed 1,000 laps led in a season, bringing his total wins to 54 and securing the third spot on the all-time list. His triumph in Abu Dhabi pushed him ahead of former Red Bull legend Sebastian Vettel, with only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton ahead in total victories.
Reflecting on the extraordinary season, Verstappen expressed, “What an incredible year. It was a bit emotional on the in-lap.” Red Bull’s dominance was evident as they won 21 of the 22 races, with Sergio Perez claiming two victories.
Verstappen acknowledged the challenge of replicating such success, stating, “It will be very hard to have another season like this, we know that. We are working hard for next year to have a very competitive car.”
Despite Perez finishing second in the race, a time penalty dropped him to fourth. Charles Leclerc, hoping for strategic positioning to secure Ferrari’s second place in the constructors’ championship, allowed Perez to pass on the final lap. However, the efforts fell short, and Mercedes clinched the second spot behind Red Bull.
Leclerc, disappointed with the team’s third place in constructors, said, “It’s just a shame we finished third in constructors, that’s all that mattered to me, we didn’t achieve that but I want to thank the team for doing such incredible work.”
Mercedes narrowly beat Ferrari in the constructors’ table by three points. George Russell, finishing third, contributed significantly to Mercedes’ success, acknowledging the team’s hard work in a challenging season.
In the midst of these achievements, Max Verstappen’s pole position at Yas Marina, his strategic tire change, and his faultless race highlighted his mastery on a track notorious for its difficulty in overtaking. The season concluded with Verstappen’s dominance, leaving Lewis Hamilton without a victory for a second consecutive year.
Perez’s penalty and Ferrari’s strategic gamble added drama to the final race, showcasing the intensity and unpredictability of Formula One. As the season wraps up, Verstappen’s triumphs and Red Bull’s dominance leave an indelible mark on the 2023 F1 season.
