P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen did not play the disruptive role many expected him to in F1’s Abu Dhabi GP title decider, where he came up two points short of a fifth-successive world championship
Max Verstappen did not disrupt the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title decider as many had anticipated, ultimately falling short of a fifth consecutive world championship by just two points.
It was not about expecting Verstappen to engage in any nefarious behavior but rather to make McLaren’s race more challenging on Sunday.
While it would have been legitimate for Verstappen to back up the field, akin to what Hamilton did to Rosberg in 2016, he chose not to employ such tactics this year.
Verstappen’s decision not to play games during the race led to questions from fellow drivers, including Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc.
The track changes and increased ease of overtaking in Abu Dhabi made it harder for Verstappen to back up the pack without risking being overtaken by midfield cars.
Though there was a window for Red Bull to potentially alter their strategy and back up the McLarens, they ultimately opted to stick to their plan and focus on winning the race instead of engaging in risky tactics.
