Sebastian Vettel Formula 1 “Final Lap” at Abu Dhabi 2022 Season Finale
Max Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc finished second with Checo Pérez coming third.
Yas Marina Circuit was the last round of the 2022 F1 season. The battle was a decider for second position in the drivers and constructors Championship.
Max Verstappen started on pole, and maintained the position during the 58 laps of the race. The Dutchman crossed the finish line first, achieving his 15th victory of the season.
Sebastian Vettel crossed the finish line, for the last time in his career, tenth. The German should have been battling for higher positions but the Aston Martin strategy didn’t result as good as expected.
For once, Ferrari’s team strategy worked. The Tiffossi’s one pit stop call, helped Charles Leclerc secure himself as the winner in the battle for second in the drivers championship.
Red Bull’s two pit stop strategy didn’t work. The Austrian team strategy was to give Perez new tyres to improve the rhythm in the last part of the race. But, the pace of the Mexican was not as good as expected, leaving his only option to undertake Leclerc in the last lap. The Red Bull driver was not able to close the gap with Leclerc, who finished in front of him.
The battle for second in the constructors championship was also on the line. Ferrari and Mercedes depended on the performance of their respectives drives to decide second place, and the money that comes with it.
Once again, Ferrari emerged victorious. The performance of Leclerc P2, and Sainz P4 was key for the achievement
Hamilton crashed out of the race with only two laps to go due to hydraulic issues. It is the first mechanical failure for Mercedes of the season. His teammate, George Russell finished fifth. Russell followed a two stops strategy, and had to complete a five seconds penalty for an unsafe release during the first pit stop.
McLaren finished fourth in the constructors championship. Both drivers finished inside the points. Lando Norris Sixth and Daniel Ricciardo ninth.
Fernando Alonso, in his last race with Alpine, had to retire. It is the fourth time this season that Alpine has to retire the Spaniard’s car due to water leaks. His now former teammate, Esteban Ocon finished seventh.
Lance Stroll, in the Aston Martin, finished P8.
As tradition indicates, the top three drivers, Verstappen, Leclerc and Pérez, delivered some donuts at the end of the race at Yas Marina.
Last but not least, the fourth times World Championship, Sebastian Vettel joined the celebration. The Abu Dhabi 2022 Grand Prix was the last race of his career.
Danke Seb!
Max Verstappen and Red Bull are the strongest alliance in Formula 1. Together, alongside with Checo Perez, they have achieved the drivers and constructors’ World Championship.
The United Arab Emirates was the last country in the F1 2022 season calendar. Formula 1 will be back in March in Qatar with a lot of updates and new faces in the sport.
See you in 2023.
