One of the stars of Formula 1 2020, Max Verstappen, brushed world champions Mercedes aside to finish off the season in an unexpectedly dominant victory for Red Bull at the Abu Dhabi GP.
The win was only Verstappen’s second of the year, and one he said he would have to fight hard for with Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton starting behind the surprise pole-sitter.
Despite an early Safety Car, Verstappen was comfortable throughout.
“It was really enjoyable out there today,” said Verstappen, the first non-Mercedes driver to win the season-ender since 2013.
“We did everything right.”
Bottas clung to the second spot and held off his teammate Hamilton, and their 2020 title-winner who was still feeling the effects of coronavirus on his F1 return, uncharacteristically off the pace.
“Considering the past couple of weeks I’ve had I really am generally happy with the weekend,” said Hamilton, F1’s seven-time champion.
“It’s obviously not as good perhaps as we would like, but congratulations to Max.
“That was a really hard race for me physically. All the year physically I’ve been fine but today I definitely wasn’t.”
Alex Albon finished fourth in the other Red Bull, despite a late charge.
The more decisive battle, however, came behind the season’s fastest cars, as Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz finished in fifth and sixth to clinch third place for McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship – their best result since 2012.
Abu Dhabi GP Race Result
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
3) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
4) Alex Albon, Red Bull
5) Lando Norris, McLaren
6) Carlos Sainz, McLaren
7) Daniel Ricciardo, Renault
8) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
9) Esteban Ocon, Renault
10) Lance Stroll, Racing Point
Well done to Max B. Congratulations to all those that participated.