Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen looked last season at the FIA awards ceremony. The Dutchman from the Red Bull Racing Team also looked forward to next year.
With 24 rounds of the World Championship, the stars of Formula 1 had to complete more races this year than ever before and at the beginning and end of the long season, Max Verstappen, the old and new champion, was at the front. The 27-year-old entered the first race as the favorite for the title and everything initially pointed to a continuation of the record season in 2023.
But the competition – above all McLaren – was able to improve, but at the same time the Red Bull Racing Team reported several problems with this year’s GP car, so that the top fight remained open until the third to last weekend. In the end, Verstappen was in front again and celebrated his fourth victory in a row.
At the FIA awards ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda, the Dutchman looked back and explained: “This year we had ups and downs, we had a good start – at least if you look at it from the outside. As a team, you always know within yourself what you want and need to improve. The competition has done a lot of work and improved their cars significantly. They didn’t make it easy for us, especially in the constructors’ championship.
“We had a difficult phase in the middle of the season, but nevertheless we were not afraid, which would have been easy. But the team stuck together and I am proud of every member of the same team,” summed up the 63 times GP winner.
With a view to the next season, Verstappen also assured: “We didn’t come here again as constructors’ world champions, but I think our team would earn more in this World Cup. I did my best and we also know what we have to work on to come back stronger next year. I’m looking forward to it because everything is pointing to an all-out battle at the top.”
Abu Dhabi-GP, Yas Marina Circuit
01. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:26:33.291 h
02. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +5.832 sec
03. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +31,928
04. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +36,483
05. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +37,538
06. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, +49,847
07. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1:12,560
08. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1:15.554
09. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +1:22.373
10. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +1:23.821
11. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1 Round
12. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1
13. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +1
14. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1
15. Jack Doohan (AUS), Alpine, +1
16. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1
17. Liam Lawson (NZ), Bulls Racing, +2
outside
Liam Lawson (NZ), Racing Bull, engine failure
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, suspension damage
Franco Colapinto (RA), Williams, Motordefekt
Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, collision damage
Final World Championship Standings (after 24 out of 24 Experts and 6 out of 6 races)
the driver
01. Verstappen 437 points
02. Norris 374
03. Leclerc 356
04. Plate 292
05. Sainz 290
06. Russell 245
07. Hamilton 223
08. Perez 152
09. Alonso 70
10. Gas 42
11. Hulkenberg 41
12. Tsunoda 30
13. Walk 24
14. Ocon 23
15. Magnussen 16
16. Albon 12
17. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 12
18. Oliver Bearman (GB) 7
19. Colapinto 5
20. Zhou 4
21. Lawson 4
22. Bota 0
23. Logan Sargeant (USA) 0
24. Doohan 0
Builders Cup
01. McLaren 666 points
02. Ferrari 652
03. Red Bull 589 Racing
04. Mercedes 468
05. Aston Martin 94
06. Alpine 65
07. Haas 58
08. Racing Bull 46
09. Williams 17
10. Sauber 4
