F1 update – Abu Dhabi GP

The final round of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship was held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Dubai for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen capped off a dominant season by clinching his nineteenth win of the year finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who finished second with Mercedes George Russell finishing third.

Abu Dhabi GP – top 5:

• 1st: Max Verstappen – Red Bull
• 2nd: Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
• 3rd: George Russell – Mercedes
• 4th: Sergio Perez – Red Bull
• 5th: Lando Norris – McLaren

Other highlights:

• Red Bull’s Sergio Perez initially finished second on the road but would be demoted to fourth after receiving a 5 second time penalty for colliding with McLaren’s Lando Norris.
• Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz had a weekend to forget as would finish eighteenth after retiring late in the race.

Final drivers standings – top 5:

• 1st: Max Verstappen – Red Bull – 575 points
• 2nd: Sergio Perez – Red Bull – 285 points
• 3rd: Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – 234 points
• 4th: Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin – 206 points
• 5th: Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – 206 points

Final constructors standings – top 5:

• 1st: Red Bull – 860 points
• 2nd: Mercedes – 409 points
• 3rd: Ferrari – 406 points
• 4th: McLaren – 302 points
• 5th: Aston Martin – 280 points

News:

• McLaren have announced that they have entered a sponsor partnership with energy drinks brand Monster Energy from 2024.
• Max Verstappen’s performance coach Bradley Scanes is to leave F1 at the end of the year with Carlos Sainz’s performance coach Rupert Manwaring moving over from Ferrari.
• French driver Theo Pourchaire won the 2023 Formula 2 championship.

Formula 1 will return in 2024 starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 29th February to 2nd March 2024.

Aston and regular contributor Cameron Perkins with the latest Formula 1 update.