Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Report: Verstappen Dominates, but Norris Secures Championship
Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, clinching the race win but ultimately losing the drivers’ championship to Lando Norris. Verstappen needed both a victory and a finish off the podium for Norris to retain his title, but an early strategic move by Oscar Piastri disrupted his plans.
Piastri’s early overtaking of Norris, aided by a hard tire strategy, complicated Verstappen’s calculations. “Honestly, we maximized everything that we could,” said Verstappen. “We put it on pole and we won the race. The car was actually enjoyable to drive.”
Verstappen noted that Piastri’s tire strategy affected the race dynamics: “What complicated it a bit was that Oscar was on a different strategy. You never know how much pace he has to catch up, which makes it tough to keep the pack together.”
Despite his victory, Verstappen was vigilant about the title race unfolding behind him. “I kept looking on the screen to see if something would pop up. The race itself went really well, and I was just enjoying sitting in the car and driving it.”
The Dutchman expressed respect for Norris and McLaren’s achievements this season, reflecting on his own championship journey from four years ago. “Winning your first title is something that I think we all dreamt of when you get into the sport. It’s important for Lando to enjoy this moment with his family and team,” Verstappen remarked.
Verstappen’s triumph marks his third consecutive win, but it falls two points short of the championship, highlighting the razor-thin margins in this highly competitive season.
