Six talking points from 2022's Abu Dhabi F1 finale

Verstappen untouchable to the last

The fireworks shot off along the grandstand as Verstappen passed the chequered flag, but in truth, there wasn’t too much that was explosive about his performance – especially in contrast to the unforgettable controversy at the same circuit 12 months ago. This was a measured, calm drive from a man who is on top of the world, Verstappen managing his Pirelli tyres and maintaining a comfortable gap to make a one-stop strategy work a treat.

Like all but three drivers on the grid, Verstappen started on the medium compound, then switched to the hards for a long 38-lap second stint as night fell in Abu Dhabi. The result was never in doubt. “A 15th win of the season is unbelievable,” he said. “It’s been really enjoyable to work with the whole team and to be able to achieve something like this. I know it is going to be hard to replicate but it is also very good motivation for next year.”

Leclerc is best of the rest

He’s been Verstappen’s only real threat this year, so there was some sporting justice in Charles Leclerc finishing second to clinch the runner-up spot in the championship. He and Sergio Perez arrived at the final round level on points and with the Red Bulls outqualifying the Ferraris, ‘Checo’ looked set to claim the position – with or without help from his team-mate, who had so rudely declined the chance to lend a hand a week earlier in Brazil.

The result is some consolation to Leclerc, but probably not much after a disastrous season in which a mix of dreadful Ferrari reliability and his own mistakes cost him an early 46-point lead in the standings. But at the end of a season in which Red Bull has generally pummelled Ferrari on strategy, the red team finally called one right in Abu Dhabi. Perez blinked first to commit to a two-stop strategy, then Leclerc echoed Verstappen by sticking to one. That left the Mexican with a daunting chase to close down 23 seconds in the final 24 laps, and although he had the Ferrari in his sights in the closing stages, he was never anywhere near within range to create late drama. Leclerc needed this boost heading into the winter, but probably not as much as his boss Mattia Binotto, in the wake of speculation – denied by Ferrari – that he is about to lose his job.

Hamilton goes winless for the first time

A week after George Russell had broken Mercedes-AMG’s 2022 duck with his first grand prix victory, the Silver Arrows found themselves blunted once again in Abu Dhabi. Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate qualified disappointingly on the third row and although the seven-time champion started well his race quickly unravelled.

Hamilton got ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr at the start, only for the Ferrari to challenge and force him out wide over a sausage kerb. The jolt as the Mercedes briefly shot into the air was significant and later Hamilton reported he felt the floor was broken, while also complaining of a power loss. He rejoined from the moment still ahead of Sainz but was ordered to give the place, quickly retaliated to move back into fourth, only for the Ferrari to sweep past him conclusively at Turn 9.

“Don’t leave me on a one-stop,” Lewis warned his team later in the race, but his fears of losing places in the closing stages turned out to be irrelevant when suspected hydraulics trouble four laps from the end marked the first Mercedes mechanical retirement of the year. But it was already obvious by then that Hamilton’s record of winning a race in every season since his first in 2007 was well and truly broken anyway.

His retirement lifted Russell to finish fifth behind Sainz, the Interlagos winner picking up a five-second penalty for an unsafe release into the path of Lando Norris’s McLaren from a botched Mercedes pitstop. Still, fourth in the final standings, well clear of Sainz and 35 points up on Hamilton represents a fine return for Russell’s first season in silver.

Alpine beats McLaren to fourth

The damage had been done with McLaren’s double retirement in Brazil, so Alpine had little trouble securing fourth in the constructors’ standings, despite Fernando Alonso’s disappointing retirement from his final race for the team on lap 27. Norris did all he could for McLaren to finish sixth and even Daniel Ricciardo, in what might well be his last grand prix in the wake of his spiral into mediocrity, managed to contribute in ninth. But Esteban Ocon finished an untroubled seventh to leave Alpine a comfortable 14 points clear of McLaren – albeit a massive 342 points in arrears of third-placed Mercedes. For both teams that aspire to join the frontrunners, 2022 has been underwhelming, to put it mildly.

Emotional farewell for Vettel

The guard of honour from his fellow drivers before the start topped a weekend of deserving tributes, as Sebastian Vettel spent his final weekend as a current Formula 1 driver in Abu Dhabi. Emotional stuff for a popular four-time champion.

But his 299^th and last grand prix proved a disappointing one, as Aston Martin’s choice of a one-stop strategy with a long first stint backfired. It was dispiriting for Vettel to lose so much ground, but for one final time, he battled away and in the closing stages at least inherited a point for 10^th from his friend Hamilton – three nights after Lewis picked up the tab when all the drivers went out for dinner to say goodbye. Generous to a fault.

Schumacher and Latifi finish in calamity

But there was no happy ending for Mick Schumacher and Nicolas Latifi, who both find themselves exiled from F1 for 2023. Schumacher’s Haas clumsily tagged Latifi’s dawdling Williams, sending both pirouetting into spins. Latifi retired with damage from his last grand prix. Schumacher picked up a five-second penalty, but still at least finished ahead of his team-mate Kevin Magnussen to restore a bit of pride. Nico Hulkenberg takes his seat next year, as up front Ferrari and Mercedes go again in their efforts to depose the mighty Verstappen and Red Bull. Let’s hope they at least get closer than they did in 2022.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images