P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Our take on who ended on a low and who can go into the winter satisfied after an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that offered plenty of intrigue in Max Verstappen’s wake
In the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, George Russell had a standout performance, securing his second podium of the season and leading the Mercedes fight for second in the constructors’ championship. He showed great aggression and made effective overtakes, benefitting from a slow McLaren pitstop and a five-second penalty for Sergio Perez. Russell’s performance was a just reward for spearheading the Mercedes attack when it needed a strong result.
Max Verstappen dominated the race, with such a commanding lead that he even ordered his teammate to pit. He extended a gap to Charles Leclerc and showcased impressive pace throughout the race. Despite some minor issues like graining on his tire, Verstappen had a flawless performance, even paying tribute to his former team boss on the radio.
Yuki Tsunoda did everything he could to honor his retiring team boss Franz Tost, leading multiple laps of the race. Although his one-stop strategy didn’t work out as planned and he dropped a couple of positions, Tsunoda defended his position against Lewis Hamilton on the last lap and showed good car placement.
Mercedes was able to hold on to second place in the constructors’ championship by having both cars in the top 10, with Russell finishing third. The strong end of the season for Ferrari made the gap between the two teams narrow to just four points, but Mercedes managed to secure their position.
