F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix result and reaction as Max Verstappen wins after Lewis Hamilton retires

Max Verstappen celebrated his second title with a victory at the final race of the season as Charles Leclerc beat Sergio Perez to second place

Sebastian Vettel On His Fellow Drivers

Max Verstappen completed his championship year by taking victory at Formula 1’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – as Lewis Hamilton’s record of winning in every season of his career went up in smoke when he retired with three laps remaining.

Verstappen finished 8.7 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who made a one-stop strategy work to secure runner-up spot in the standings, ahead of Sergio Perez. The Red Bull driver stopped one more time than Leclerc, but failed to catch the Monegasque in the closing stages and finished third. Carlos Sainz was fourth for Ferrari with Hamilton’s teammate George Russell fifth, leaving Mercedes behind the Italian team and third in the constructors’ championship.

Verstappen snatched victory from Hamilton a year ago to claim his maiden title in the most contentious of circumstances, but the Dutch driver has been the standout performer of 2022 and his win here under the thousands of bulbs that light up the Yas Marina Circuit was his 15th from 22 appearances. Hamilton left Abu Dhabi at the end of last season pondering if he would ever return, so aggrieved was he by Michael Masi’s officiating of the decider that cost him a record eighth crown. The seven-time world champion decided against retirement, but he will head into this season’s winter break having failed to register a single win – the first time that has happened in his career, which began in 2007 – and reflecting on a DNF that summed up a sour campaign. Elsewhere, Lando Norris finished sixth for McLaren, with teammate Daniel Ricciardo ninth in his last race for the British team. Sebastian Vettel started ninth and finished 10th in his final F1 appearance.

Follow all the reaction with our live blog below.

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

• World champion Max Verstappen celebrates record 15th win of the season
• Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc beats Red Bull’s Sergio Perez to second place
• Lewis Hamilton retires late on after reporting damage to car
• Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in the points in final race of career
• George Russell handed five-second penalty for unsafe release from pit lane
• Mick Schumacher penalised after tangling with Nicholas Latifi

[20 November 2022 13:21 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Verstappen is now more than three seconds clear of Perez.

Sainz’s team tell him that his pace is good and degradation is better than expected.

“I don’t agree,” he replies.

(Getty Images)

[20 November 2022 13:19 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Lap 11 of 58:

1. Verstappen

2. Perez

3. Leclerc

4. Sainz

5. Russell

6. Hamilton

7. Norris

8. Ocon

9. Vettel

10. Alonso

[20 November 2022 13:18 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

“What’s happening, man? I’m losing power,” Hamilton tells his team.

[20 November 2022 13:17 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Verstappen is two seconds ahead of teammate Perez out front and has just set the fastest lap.

After some pushing, Sainz gets past Hamilton! Russell follows suit!!

“You’re free to race,” Russell is told.

Meanwhile, Vettel overtakes Ocon... who immediately gets the position back.

A few drivers have been warned about track limits.

[20 November 2022 13:15 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Russell is telling the Mercedes team radio that his teammate Hamilton needs to pick up the pace to avoid giving Sainz DRS.

Russell’s intention is not only to protect Hamilton’s position but also to help his own chances of getting past Sainz.

[20 November 2022 13:13 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Not long after giving back that place, Hamilton gets the overtake soon thereafter!! He can’t get by Sainz on the chicane, but he overtakes him on the next straight!

[20 November 2022 13:10 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Hamilton is in fact ordered to give the place back to Sainz, and does so.

[20 November 2022 13:08 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Stewards decide that no further investigation is needed. Hamilton did regain his lead over Sainz – which he secured in the opening moments – after rejoining the track.

So, the first five are: Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz.

[20 November 2022 13:06 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Verstappen stays ahead of Red Bull teammate Perez on the first corner!

Meanwhile, Hamilton gets past Sainz!

Perez keeps Leclerc at bay, before Hamilton is clipped by Sainz and squeezed off track!

The Briton runs over the rumble strip and gets back on track – ahead of the Spaniard.

Stewards are investigating that, but Hamilton stays ahead of Sainz.

[20 November 2022 13:03 · Alex Pattle]

F1 LIVE: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix updates

Lights out and away we go for the last time this season!