Verstappen Wins Season-ending Abu Dhabi GP As Vettel Retires

2022 world champion, Max Verstappen picked up extra points after winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. The race in Abu Dhabi marks the end of the 2022 season, which we can say was quite unexpected but fun. Red Bull ends the season as world champions for the second year, as well as the new constructors champion title for the first time ever. 

Charles Leclerc, who finished second on Sunday, earned enough points to claim the second spot in the drivers’ leaderboard. He ends the season just three points ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who finished third on Sunday. His team, Ferrari, also came second on the constructor’s cup leaderboard. Leclerc’s teammate, Carlos Sainz, came fifth on the leaderboard. Ferrari improved this season after spending the last two seasons having issues with their cars. 

George Russell, who joined Mercedes this season, finished fourth overall, two places ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Their combined effort helped Mercedes to finish third, making it the first time since 2013 that they would not finish first on the constructor’s leaderboard. Mercedes performance this season was a real downgrade and was quite shocking, especially as it denied seven-time world champion Hamilton the chance to compete for victory. 

Completing the remaining spots on the constructor’s standing are Alpine, McLaren, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Haas, AlphaTauri, Williams. For the drivers’ standing, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, and Valterri Bottas took up the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th place, respectively. 

German Driver Sebastian Vettel raced his last Formula 1 race at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The 35-year-old, who has been in Formula 1 since 2007, finished 12th on Sunday but was greeted with an applause and much praise as he raced alone on the track one last time. Vettel is a four-time champion and was the only active driver following Hamilton with the most Formula 1 championships. 

Leon Osamor