F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 results, highlights as Verstappen wins in the final race of the season

Max Verstappen took his 19th race win of the season as he yet again dominated the field during the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

The Dutchman — who was already confirmed as the World Drivers' Championship winner several weeks ago — effectively led from start to finish to take the chequered flag again this season. In the process, he also become the first driver in Formula One history to lead 1000 laps in the same season. 

Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc brought home P2 for Ferrari, whilst George Russell rounded out the podium spots. Sergio Perez had finished in P2 on the road but was subsequently given a five-second penalty due to a collision with Lando Norris which dropped him down to P4. 

Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda, Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll rounded out the points positions as Mercedes finished P2 in the Constructors' Championship right at the death ahead of on-track rivals Ferrari. 

MORE: F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix predictions, odds, betting tips, best bets for final race of 2023

F1 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 live updates, highlights: As it happens

CHEQUERED FLAG: MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE 2023 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX!! It's another exemplary drive from the Dutchman who comes home over 10 seconds ahead of Leclerc for his 19th win of the season. He becomes the first driver in history to lead for 1000 laps in the same season. 

Lap 55: Perez produces a lovely move to get past Russell down the inside. He now needs to build a five second gap to finish on the podium in just four laps due to his penalty.  

Lap 52: Perez gets a five second penalty for causing a collision when he hit Norris a few laps back. Interesting decision from the FIA there. 

Lap 51: Verstappen still leads here with a gap of nearly nine seconds to Leclerc out front. Russell is a further 3.5 seconds back with Perez closing in. 

Lap 48: Norris and Perez collide at the end of the back straight. The Mexican driver understeered on the inside of the corner but both cars escape with no damage. A lap later and he produces the same move but to better effect to get his Red Bull up into P4. 

Lap 46: Alonso breezes past Sainz and gets himself up to P8. Advantage Mercedes again! 

Lap 44: Perez comes in for his second and final stop of this race and resumes in P6. He'll be desperate to finish this season as strongly as possible and could threaten Leclerc for P2 towards the end of this Grand Prix. 

Lap 41: Sainz gets up into P9 at the expense of Ocon and as of right now, Ferrari would beat Mercedes in the Constructor's Championship by a single point!

LAP 40/58

And the advantage swings to Ferrari, but it's so tight! 👀#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/UDMvZo56wv

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2023

Lap 39: Hamilton gets past Alonso an the Spaniard comes over his team radio to say, "we have the slowest car in a straight by far". It's true, and it's strange given how well Aston Martin performed for so long this season. 

Just one lap later and Alonso is back infront however. 

Lap 36: Leclerc pits and crucially gets back out ahead of Russell in their battle for P2. That was perfect timing from Ferrari.  

Lap 33: With Russell in P3 and Hamilton in P8, Mercedes currently have enough points to finish P2 in the Constructors' Championship ahead of Ferrari but there's plenty of time still left here for Leclerc and Sainz to change that.

Lap 30: Speaking of drivers who are flying out there, Perez is up to P5 as he overtakes Piastri who continues to fall down the order. 

Lap 28: Verstappen is pulling away from Leclerc out front with Russell starting to close on the Ferrari man in P2. Hamilton is flying further down the pack despite some front wing damage. 

Lap 23: Tsunoda finally pits as Verstappen retakes the lead of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Russell looks quick in the top order as Perez clocks the fastest lap so far down in P8.  

Lap 21: Gasly is fuming as he is undercut by his Alpine teammate Ocon. He was the lead car prior to those pit stops so that's a very strange strategy from the French constructor. 

Lap 19: For just the second time in F1 history, a Japanese driver is leading a Grand Prix! He's yet to pit but that's a great moment for Tsunoda and his AlphaTauri team. 

LAP 19/58

After Verstappen and Leclerc pit for fresh rubber...

Look who's currently leading - it's Yuki! 👀#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/HgEFORXgzT

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2023

Lap 17: Hamilton hits the back of Gasly! The Frenchman locks up at corner six whilst the British driver is going too quick to stop in time and loses some of his front wing as a result. 

Lap 14: Alonso is into the pits as he tries to undercut Piastri but McLaren respond a lap later and the youngest driver on the grid manages to squeeze out just before the oldest. 

Norris and Russell are also in and it's a gift for Mercedes as McLaren produce a slow stop and the pair swap spots. 

Lap 12: Russell finally gets past that McLaren car for P4. Piastri produces a little lock up which compromises his line down the back straight and gives the Mercedes driver a chance which he seizes. 

Lap 9: Piastri holds off Russell for now as the pair battle away for P4 on the road over the past couple of laps. Further down the order, Perez nearly gets past Gasly for P8 but the Mexican driver is made to wait for that overtake. 

Lap 7: Magnussen is already into the pit lane for a change of tyres. That could signal quite high tyre wear here and a potential two stop strategy for most drivers. 

Lap 5: Norris gets past his teammate Piastri and is up to P3 and another potential podium spot. The Australian rookie is now under big pressure from Russell. Tsunoda remains in P6. 

Lap 3: It's as you were at the front for the time being as Verstappen holds the lead still but Leclerc is sticking with him. Piastri is very close behind in P3 for now. 

LIGHTS OUT: Verstappen leads after the opening lap after holding off Leclerc in what turns out to be a fantastic battle between the pair. Piastri follows behind and then comes Norris who has overtaken Russell. 

2 minutes to lights out: We're off for the final formation lap of the season ahead of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Let's go racing!

15 minutes to lights out: A quick word on Franz Tost who is leaving AlphaTauri as team principle after today's race. He's been instrumental in bringing through so many drivers in F1 and will be hoping that Tsunoda can put together some magic for P6 on the grid. 

What a welcome on his final day 😍

AlphaTauri salute Franz Tost 🫡#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/Y0eNawhJE4

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2023

30 minutes to lights out: All the cars have made their way to the grid for the start of today's race. 

45 minutes to lights out: There's plenty of stars at this Grand Prix this weekend including actor Jason Statham who teamed up with AlphaTauri's Yuki Tsunoda in a partnership that I don't think many saw coming..

The Japanese driver starts this race from P6, his best result in that regard during his career so far. 

Yuki 🤜💥🤛 Jason Statham

What a double act! 😎#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/XTqgNrU9z9

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2023

1 hour to lights out: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the 2023 Formula One season comes to an end.

Max Verstappen was crowned the champion a while back now, but can the Dutchman finish his season in the perfect way here? We'll find out shortly. 

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 starting grid

What time does the F1 race start?

• Date: Sunday, November 26
• Start time: 1 p.m. GMT / 8 a.m. ET / 12:00 a.m. AEDT (Mon, Nov 27) / 5 p.m. local time

Sunday's 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. local time. Lights out will take place just after 1 p.m. GMT/8 a.m. ET.

What TV channel is the F1 on?

Where can I live stream F1?

How to watch Formula 1 in the US

• TV channel: ABC; ESPN
• Live stream: Fubo / Hulu / Sling TV

F1 fans in the USA can catch all the action in 2023 with all 23 races set to be shown live on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. For Spanish-language viewers, they can find live broadcasts on ESPN Deportes, though ESPNews and ESPNU will also show some practice and qualifying sessions live throughout the year.

As well as on the official F1 TV service, the action can be live streamed on Hulu + Live TV with subscriptions. Elsewhere, Sling TV will also show the action, as too will FuboTV in the US.

How to watch Formula 1 in Canada

• TV channel: TSN (English); RDS (French)
• Live stream: TSN Direct

For fans in Canada, TSN will carry the English-language telecast of races. For those looking for the French-language broadcast, RDS will have you covered.

Races can be streamed on fubo and via TSN's streaming service, TSN Direct.

How to watch Formula 1 in the United Kingdom

• TV channel: Sky Sports F1
• Live stream: NOW TV / Sky Go app

Viewers in the United Kingdom can catch all F1 action on Sky Sports F1, the dedicated F1 channel. For viewers planning to live stream F1 in 2023, you can watch via the Sky Go app if you're an existing subscriber or you can purchase a Sky Sports Pass on NOW TV.

How to watch Formula 1 in Australia

• TV channel: Fox Sports; Channel 10
• Live stream: Kayo

Fox Sports will carry all races in Australia for the 2023 season.

How to watch Formula 1 in India

• TV channel: N/A
• Live stream: F1 TV Pro

No TV broadcast network is currently set to host the action throughout this year in India, though Formula 1 has launched F1 TV Pro in the country for the first time so fans can live stream the action.