F1: Perfection by Red Bull in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final

Abu Dhabi was the final Grand Prix of 2022 and the final Grand Prix of Sebastian Vettel’s career. Conditions were perfect for the race, where Max Verstappen would start on Pole position in an all Red Bull front row.

Before the race, the main focus was on the battle for second in the championship between Leclerc and Perez. The two drivers were tied on points with every point counting.

As the sun set and the lights went out, it was Verstappen who led the way from Perez. Charles Leclerc would try to make a move on his rival Perez later in the lap. Leclerc would not make the move stick and had to back out.

Carlos Sainz tried to make a move on Hamilton, this led to Hamilton running off the track, and bouncing over the raised kerb. The incident was under investigation by race control, they later told Hamilton to give the position back.

The two drivers would have a great battle, as Hamilton and Sainz went wheel to wheel again. Hamilton would manage to get past the Spanish driver, as he sets his sights on Leclerc.

It was clear that Hamilton didn’t have the outright pace as Sainz, and Russell caught onto the back of him. Both Mercedes drivers were told that they could race, and with the DRS Russell found a way past within a lap and left his teammate behind.

Sebastian Vettel and Ocon were having a great battle for eighth position with Ocon. This battle would alone fellow Alpine driver, Fernando Alonso to catch up to the pair.

Unsafe Release From Russell

The pit window would open and allow Sebastian Vettel to get ahead of Sergio Perez. In the pitlane, it was Russell who had an unsafe release, after there were issues with putting the right rear on. This would result in a five-second penalty for the Brit.

All eyes were on where Leclerc would be on track after his pitstop. Once the Ferrari came out of the pitlane he was overtaken by both Red Bulls and was four seconds back from Perez. Leclerc with the fresher hard compound tyre set the fastest lap on lap 29 in an attempt to catch Perez.

Vettel would struggle with his tyre compound after leaving it late to pit. This caused the German to drop down to 19^th position as he would make his final-ever F1 pitstop. Vettel showed great pace on his fresher set of tyres in an attempt to do a one-stop.

Upfront Verstappen was still in the race lead and a head of a Ferrari duo. The Dutch driver was having a lonely race as his battle was with trying to save his tyres. The discussion of one-stops was coming across the radio to both Verstappen and Leclerc, as they decided to take a different strategy.

HAAS and Williams collide

Contact between Latifi and Schumacher sent them both spinning and Latifi into the wall. Schumacher managed to escape damage, while Latifi managed to limp back to the pitlane as he made repairs to his car. The HAAS driver of Schumacher would receive a five-second penalty for causing a collision

Perez was on a charge to try and catch the Ferrari of Leclerc. He caught Hamilton who was in third place, and the two drivers had an incredible battle which would hold the Red Bull driver up. Once Perez managed to get clear of Hamilton, he started to catch Leclerc by one second a lap.

Hamilton’s race went from bad, to worse as a hydraulic issue forced him to retire the car. This forced Hamilton to limp back to the pits and ended his 2022 season as Mercedes have their first retirement.

Leclerc was on tyres which were over 30 laps old. This helped Perez who was catching, which heading into the last lap the gap was over a second. This meant that second in the championship looked to be going the way of Leclerc and Ferrari.

Verstappen wins in style

The chequered flag waved, and Max Verstappen would win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a dominant fashion as he took his 15^th win of the season. He would be joined by Leclerc and Perez on the podium.

As the top three in the championship lined up on the grid for doughnuts. They would be joined by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel as he said goodbye to F1.

With the 2022 season coming to an end, it’s been a great season where Max Verstappen showed his class by becoming a two-time world champion. The paddock’s eyes are now set on February when the 2023 drivers and cars will be ready to hit the track for the first time.

Image from Pirelli