Abu Dhabi GP loses decisive role in F1 championship’s Top 3 for the first time in eight years

The 2023 Abu Dhabi GP would be the first to not decide any of the Top 3 in the F1 standings since 2015.

Abu Dhabi GP loses decisive role in F1 championship’s Top 3 for the first time in eight years

Lewis Hamilton [L], Max Verstappen [C], Sergio Perez [R] (Via IMAGO)

The Abu Dhabi GP is the last round of the F1 season. The season finale has delivered on some exciting races in the past few years including the title deciders in 2016 and 2021. However, the 2023 Abu Dhabi GP will not play a decisive role in any of the Top 3 spots of the F1 world championship for the first time in eight years.

The 2016 Abu Dhabi GP saw Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg go head-to-head till the final lap of the race. Rosberg managed to stay second in the race despite Hamilton’s controversial tactics and was crowned the 2016 world champion. The 2021 season finale needs no introduction as Max Verstappen won the title after a controversial decision was made by then-Race Director Michael Masi.

The 2017, 2020, and 2022 iterations of the Abu Dhabi GP saw drivers battle it out for the runner-up spot in the championship. While the races in 2018 and 2019 decided the final spot in the Top 3.

Max Verstappen won the 2023 F1 world championship during the Qatar GP weekend. The three-time world champion has a massive lead of 276 points to second-placed Sergio Perez. Now, Perez has taken the runner-up spot after his third-place finish at the Las Vegas GP. Subsequently, Lewis Hamilton will be rounding up the Top 3 in the standings at the end of the season. Although, the Abu Dhabi GP will settle the fight for fourth in the standings between Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz.

Max Verstappen remains the favorite for the Abu Dhabi GP

The Dutch driver has been in a league of his own this year with some stunning drives. Max Verstappen has continued to dominate the sport throughout the course of the 2023 season with rivals being no match for the 26-year-old. Verstappen has broken multiple records this year in what has been a historic run for the Red Bull driver.

Max Verstappen on the Las Vegas GP podium
Max Verstappen on the Las Vegas GP podium (Via IMAGO)

The 26-year-old has now won a record eighteen races this year. Subsequently, the three-time world champion remains the favorite for the season finale at the Abu Dhabi GP. Despite rivals such as Ferrari and McLaren coming close to Red Bull in the past few weeks, the Austrian team continues to enjoy a decent pace advantage.

Max Verstappen would be looking to end the season with another victory at the Abu Dhabi GP. The three-time world champion is likely to outperform his rivals yet again in the final race of the year. However, it remains to be seen if anyone can challenge Verstappen for the race victory in the last round of the season.

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