Verstappen wins 19th race of the season in Abu Dhabi

Max Verstappen converted pole position into victory during Sunday evening’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win his 19th race of the season.

The Red Bull driver has won 19 wins across 22 races in what has been a remarkable year for the 26-year-old driver.

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Red Bull racing won 21 out of the 22 races this season

Verstappen defended from Charles Leclerc on the run to the first corner and across the first lap before cementing his lead and gradually pulling clear, taking the chequered flag comfortably ahead of the chasing pack as the sun set on the 2023 campaign.

Verstappen victorious in Abu Dhabi

Sergio Perez crossed the line in second position for Red Bull, but a five-second time penalty for a clash with McLaren’s Lando Norris demoted him to fourth when the results were confirmed, leaving Leclerc second and the Mercedes of George Russell third.

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Leclerc had been second on the road until the closing laps when he elected to let Perez pass him and try to generate enough of a gap between the Red Bull and Russell to boost Ferrari’s chances of beating Mercedes to second in the constructors’ standings, but it was not to be.

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