2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix recap: Verstappen's 15th win and Vettel's last race
A record 15th win of the season for Verstappen, Leclerc clinching second in the championship and four farewells at Yas Marina.
The 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 20 November was a night of records and goodbyes. Max Verstappen started from pole with a lap of 1:23.824 and won from the front, his third straight win in Abu Dhabi and a then-record 15th of the season. Sergio Perez qualified second, giving Red Bull its first front-row lockout since the 2018 Mexican Grand Prix.
The fight for second in the championship went to the final laps. Charles Leclerc finished second in the race and Perez third, which kept Leclerc ahead in the standings by three points, 308 to 305. Red Bull had already won the constructors' title.
It was a difficult night for others. Fernando Alonso retired with a water leak in his last race for Alpine, and Lewis Hamilton retired with a late hydraulics problem, confirming his first season without a race win. Lando Norris set the fastest lap and finished sixth.
Sebastian Vettel made his 300th Grand Prix entry and last start, finishing 10th to score one final point. Daniel Ricciardo finished ninth in his last race for McLaren, while Nicholas Latifi and Mick Schumacher also drove their final races for Williams and Haas.
Four years later, Alonso is still racing, now with Aston Martin, and Hamilton returns with Ferrari. The 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is on Sunday 6 December.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026Race day Sun 6 Dec · Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi See tickets
