Fuss about Verstappen

LIVE from 11.30 a.m.: 3rd practice for Abu Dhabi GP! Copy

Lando Norris secured the final victory in Abu Dhabi.

(Bild: AFP/APA/Giuseppe CACACE)

At the end of the Formula 1 season, Lando Norris secured the Constructors' Championship title for McLaren with his victory in Abu Dhabi. The Briton won ahead of Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton ensured a conciliatory farewell for Mercedes with his fourth place. Meanwhile, world champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull caused a stir with a provocation, while team-mate Sergio Perez retired again. 

Lando Norris secured the Constructors' Championship title for McLaren with a victory in the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi. The Englishman kept the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at bay in the fourth Grand Prix triumph of his career - enough for his team to secure the ninth constructors' title in its history, the first since 1998. World champion Max Verstappen only finished sixth in the Red Bull after an early collision and penalty.

With nine titles in the team championship, McLaren moved into second place in the all-time leaderboard behind Ferrari (16) and British rivals Williams, who have long been unable to keep up with the front runners. McLaren has also had some difficult years. The traditional racing team from Woking was plagued by existential financial worries in the coronavirus year of 2020. With a young driver duo under the leadership of Managing Director Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella, a renaissance was achieved.

Lando Norris

(Bild: AFP/APA/Lillian SUWANRUMPHA)

Norris and Oscar Piastri have won six races this season - their first in the premier class. Only four-time world champion Verstappen (9 wins this season) was out of reach and prevented McLaren from winning their first drivers' title since 2008. Norris finished runner-up ahead of Leclerc, who started from the back row, and also withstood the pressure from the two Ferraris when he had to pull the coals out of the fire alone in the battle for the constructors' championship after Piastri dropped back through no fault of his own.

Wribel for Verstappen, emotions for Hamilton
Verstappen went aggressively into the first corner - and cleared Piastri, who had started from the front row alongside pole man Norris, off the track. "The maneuver of a world champion," commented the McLaren driver, who was flushed to the back of the field, flippantly. Verstappen received a ten-second penalty from the stewards. After serving it, the Dutchman asked on the radio: "Couldn't we have asked for 20 seconds? Stupid idiots." In times when drivers are banned from swearing, this is likely to have repercussions. Piastri still scored a point in tenth place.

Lewis Hamilton

(Bild: APA/AFP/Patrick T. Fallon)

Lewis Hamilton drove a strong race to say goodbye to Mercedes, working his way up to fourth place after a completely botched qualifying. On the final lap, the record-breaking world champion, who will join Ferrari next season after twelve years and six drivers' world championship titles with Mercedes, even squeezed past his team-mate George Russell with a spectacular maneuver.

Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez spun after a contact with Valtteri Bottas and had to park the car on the second lap in what could be his last race for Red Bull. Bottas then also drove into Kevin Magnussen's car at the end of his F1 career and retired. Magnussen retired from the premier class with the fastest race lap, but outside the points. Australian Jack Doohan also finished out of the points in his GP debut for Alpine.