(Abu Dhabi) Dutchman Max Verstappen improved his own record by signing a 15e victory this season, Sunday, at the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, the last stop on the calendar of a 2022 season which he largely dominated.
A year after his triumph over the Briton Lewis Hamilton which had allowed him to win a first world championship, all in a climate of great tension and controversy, the Red Bull driver won, this time, without difficulty no stress on the Yas Marina circuit.
The Quebecer Lance Stroll, on Aston Martin, ended the season on a good note with an eighth place.
This eighth top 10 of the season allowed him to add four points to his record and complete the season at 15e rank in the general classification with a total of 18 points.
His team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who was competing in the final race of a glittering 16-year career that saw him win four world championship titles, finished the race in 10e position.
PHOTO BEN STANSALL, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Sebastian Vettel
Leclerc second
At the start of the race, Verstappen stayed ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez and was never seriously threatened en route to another victory.
“It’s amazing to win here again, 15e victory of the season is incredible,” commented Verstappen.
“It’s been really nice to work with the whole team and to be able to achieve something like this this year,” he added.
PHOTO LEONHARD FOEGER, REUTERS
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
Driving his Ferrari, Charles Leclerc held off Perez’s efforts and finished second in the race, and also second in the drivers’ championship with 308 points, three more than Perez.
Verstappen finished far ahead of all other drivers, with 454 points.
“I knew that the only possibility of beating Checo [Perez]today was with a different strategy and maneuvering with tire management, which we did really well today,” explained Leclerc.
“I really hope that next year we can take a step forward and fight for the championship. »
At the start of the season, Leclerc and Ferrari looked set to fight a close battle with Verstappen for the title. However, the Red Bulls improved their advantage in terms of car performance throughout the season.
Errors by Leclerc on the track and in Ferrari’s racing strategy also harmed the hopes of the Monegasque and the Italian team.
For his part, Hamilton, driving his Mercedes, suffered a hydraulic problem which ended his race prematurely. Thus, he completed the season without a single victory, a first for him in his career.