F1 in UAE: Verstappen wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Verstappen’s previous wins had come at Barcelona (2016), Kuala Lumpur and Mexico City (2017), Spielberg and Mexico City (2018), Spielberg, Hockenheim and Interlagos (2019).

It was only his second victory of the curtailed season after he had triumphed at Emirates Formula One 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, in the second of the double-header at Silverstone in England in August.

He is the third non-Mercedes driver to win this season and the only one to taste victory twice. The other two were Alphatauri Honda’s Pierre Gasly, who won at Monza in Italy in September and Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, who triumphed at the Sakhir Grand Prix last weekend.

“That was absolutely clinical,” Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner told Verstappen over the team radio.

Bottas was second followed by Hamilton with Verstappen’s teammate Thai-British driver Alexander Albon finishing fourth.

Finn Bottas finished +15.976 seconds adrift of Verstappen, while Hamilton, who returned to the grid after missing the Sakhir Grand Prix due to a positive Covid-19 test, was +18.415 seconds behind.

Albon, who is yet to know his fate on whether he will partner Verstappen next season, was +19.987 seconds back.

The McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz were fifth and sixth followed by Australian Daniel Ricciardo, in his final race for Renault.

Briton Norris finished a full minute behind Verstappen, while Spaniard Sainz, who heads over to Ferrari next season, was +65.662 seconds adrift.

Ricciardo, who joins forces with famed British marquee McLaren next term, logged seven points with his seventh place finish. He also logged the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:40.926 seconds on the 55th and final lap. His average speed was 198.109kmph.

Gasly was eighth, while Ricciardo’s French teammate Esteban Ocon finished ninth. Racing Point’s Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10.

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel’s final race for Ferrari ended with a 14th place finish. The German, who jumps ship to the rebranded Aston Martin, finished behind Monagasque teammate Charles Leclerc.

It was a disappointing end for Racing Point driver Mexican Sergio Perez with the Sakhir Grand Prix winner enduring a DNF in Sector 3. Perez’s RP20 suffered a loss of power as he exited Turn 19 across the W Abu Dhabi (formerly the Yas Viceroy Hotel).