Leclerc's crazy race, Norris's victory and McLaren's title but also a Verstappen already on vacation and Bottas in bowling mode, find the tops and flops of the Abu Dhabi GP.
Tops
Leclerc, the crazy comeback
Nineteenth on the grid, the task was not easy for Charles Leclerc on Sunday but the Monegasque delivered a sumptuous race. He gained seven positions on the first lap, including five in a single corner. He was 8th after three laps and 4th at the time of the stops. A crazy first stint which propelled him to third with the different strategies. Leclerc was huge but he started from too far to capsize McLaren and Norris.
Norris and McLaren at the top
Long in the fight for the driver's title, Lando Norris and McLaren won the constructors' title on Sunday in Abu Dhabi. The first confirmed his pole and signed his 4th victory of the season. He consolidates his second place in the drivers' championship and validates his enormous season. For McLaren, this is an achievement. A real return to the forefront launched for two good seasons now and which is validated by this title, the first since 1998 for the glorious British team.
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F1: Norris wins the Abu Dhabi GP and offers the constructors' title to McLaren
Hamilton, one last in style with Mercedes
He had missed his qualifying, exited in Q1 on Saturday, and Lewis Hamilton therefore started 16th on Sunday. He opted for hard tires at the start, the only one, and completed a long first stint of high quality which took him into the top 6. With medium tires at the end of the race, the seven-time world champion climbed back into the the top 5 and even got Russell on the last lap with a magnificent overtake from the outside. A fourth place to close this Mercedes chapter before opening a new one at Ferrari.
Flops
Hide and wheel free
Fourth on the grid, Max Verstappen made a superb start but he was too ambitious at turn 1 while trying to pass Piastri. Inevitable contact and ten seconds of logical penalty for the Dutchman. In the top 5 for a long time before his stop, his penalty cost him dearly as he only finished sixth. Furthermore, with a certain irony, he attacked the commissioners on the radio calling them “idiots” and this should not remain without consequences.
Bottas a fashion strike
For his last in F1, Valtteri Bottas surely wanted to get noticed. He wasn't missed. On the first lap, he went after Sergio Perez, ruining the Mexican's race and causing a virtual safety car. The Finn probably hadn't had his fill of thrills so, mid-race, he demolished Kevin Magnussen at the sector 2 chicane. This time, Bottas surely felt the job was done and so he retired. One last chaotic one.
