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Max Verstappen cruises to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory

Verstappen cruises to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory
© Reuters
World champion Max Verstappen cruises to victory at Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, while Charles Leclerc collects second spot in the World Championship.

World champion Max Verstappen has cruised to victory at Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Last year, Verstappen was involved in one of the most controversial races in Formula 1 history, eventually prevailing to claim his first world title by the narrowest of margins.

However, the 2022 race lacked the drama of the previous edition, the Red Bull driver leading from start to finish for a record-extending 15th race win of the season.

The battle for second place ended with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc edging out Red Bull's Sergio Perez by just 1.3 seconds, the latter's team wrongly predicting that the Mexican would catch his rival on fresher tyres.

As a result, Leclerc finishes three points clear in the runner-up spot, while teammate Carlos Sainz Jr was able to collect fourth after the late retirement of Lewis Hamilton.

The Spaniard may have still overtaken the Mercedes, who went long in a bid to keep in fourth, but Hamilton and his team will be disappointed with their first mechanical retirement of the campaign.

George Russell and Lando Norris benefitted to finish fifth and sixth respectively, while Hamilton's retirement with two laps to go ensured that former rival Sebastian Vettel collected a point on his final appearance in the sport.

However, while Aston Martin were able to celebrate the end of the German's career with 10th spot, it was a frustrating end to Fernando Alonso's stint with Alpine as he retired shortly before the midway point.

In terms of the final standings, Hamilton let slip of fifth with Sainz finishing the season six points clear, with Vettel able to claim joint 10th alongside Daniel Riccardo.

Ferrari were able to see off the challenge of Mercedes for second in the Constructors' standings, and Vettel's point also took Aston Martin level with Alfa Romeo in a share of sixth.

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