Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel locked in $18m final lap fight
Daniel Ricciardo didn’t want to get emotional in Abu Dhabi - a race that could be his last - but he poured his heart out to McLaren fans in an open letter.
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Ahead of what could prove to be his final Formula One race, Daniel Ricciardo penned an open letter to McLaren fans.
Months after having his contract torn up 12 months early, the Aussie reached out to his papaya followers in an emotional note insisting there would be no bad blood.
With the Aussie without a drive in 2023, next season will mark the first time since 2010 that Ricciardo has not been on the grid.
His time at McLaren has been less than ideal with results lagging behind expectation but the 33-year-old wanted to thank his supporters for everything they had done for him.
“Signing on the dotted line for this team and climbing into the car for the first time were proud moments, and I’ll always carry that with me,” he wrote.
“I also want to thank you because above anything I’m a sports fan, and I know how it feels to ride with someone through adversity and struggle.
“I know what it is like to support and cheer for someone when it isn’t going well, it ruins your Sunday.
“It would have been easy to jump off the bandwagon, but you’ve been pretty much unconditional all year.
“Don’t ever underestimate the impact of your support, I certainly haven’t ever taken it for granted.”
Highlighting his 2021 victory at Monza, Ricciardo insisted there was no bad blood as he walked away.
Daniel Ricciardo signs off in style after finishing P9 in his final race for @McLarenF1 👠#AbuDhabiGP#F1pic.twitter.com/f92ntw67te
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 20, 2022
“It was the perfect weekend, and that made up for a lot of the more difficult ones because we were rewarded with the highest of highs.
“When you’ve been racing with a team, you’re connected for life.
“Sure, you switch teams, you move on, you change, but those connections you make are forever, whether it be with the mechanics, the engineers or any other team members I’ve worked with.
“These people have poured everything in over this two-year period, and I won’t ever lose the connections I’ve made here.
“There is a part of McLaren that I’ll always hold close to me.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time with Lando, not only as teammates but as people and friends, we’ve had some great times together, and that friendship has blossomed,” he added.
“There’s been a lot of great moments between us both on and off camera, and I’m sure you’ll all have your own favourite. It started with us banging some drums together and making terrible music, and along the way, we’ve stuck some rubbish tattoos on each other and were let loose with space hoppers, although Lando might not have loved that so much!
“We’ve had a lot of laughs, we’ve driven some fast and exciting road cars together and giggled our way through it all.
“I am excited for the future because I feel like I have dealt with the highs and lows from my time here and come out of it,” he explained.
“On a personal level, it has not been ‘all good, all ways’, it has tested my resilience, but I have gotten through it, and now I’m excited to see how I take on challenges moving forwards.
“All of the tests that I have encountered here and everything that I’ve learned will only help me.
“As much as I’d have loved to have won every race, I am grateful for these experiences.
“My journey with McLaren may be coming to end, but we’re connected for life now.”
RICCIARDO’S $18M FINAL LAP
Daniel Ricciardo doesn’t do things by halves.
The Australian could have gone into his final Formula One race for the foreseeable future knowing that he was soon to be a free man, released from the contraints of competition.
However, proving he is a fighter to the very end, the 33-year-old, who is taking a year off the grid in 2023, made every second and inch count on the final lap at Yas Marina which was worth a fortune.
Locked in a battle with former Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel - who was also contesting his final race before retirement - the German needed to leapfrog Ricciardo for ninth place to have a chance of securing Aston Martin 6th in the constructors championship.
The Aussie held on to secure fifth for McLaren and hand sixth to Alfa Romeo.
“I’m happy – just relieved also the season finished like this and not like the race in Brazil,” Ricciardo said.
“To see the chequered flag, to finish in the points, just makes me a little more at peace with how this year has ended.
“Of course, I don’t know what the future holds, so if this was to be my final ever race, at least I can say ‘all right, had a nice little battle with [Sebastian] Vettel at the end.’
“I feel a bit more content with my performance, so for that I’m relieved.
“I tried not to get too emotional,” he said.
“It’s not a sure thing – maybe it is, maybe it isn’t [my last race] – and there’s still a race to happen.
“I didn’t want to be overridden with emotions and a lot of nostalgia and all these things.
“I was trying to stay focused and certainly trying to absorb everything and appreciate it, but ultimately still stay focused.”
Vettel took 10th to collect a point on his 299th and final race.
“I wish it would have been a couple more points,” said the retiring Aston Martin driver.
“A big day, thank you for all the support and the smiling faces. I’m sure I’m going to miss more than I can imagine,” added Vettel who heads into retirement with four drivers’ world titles, 53 race wins, 57 pole positions and a chorus of tributes ringing in his ears.
I CANT DO THIS STOP pic.twitter.com/vOwj6lsa0I
— Jo 🦡 (@itsIightsout) November 20, 2022
VERSTAPPEN ENDS SEASON WITH A WIN
Max Verstappen won the season-closing race to register a record-extending 15th win of a memorable year for the double world champion and his Red Bull team.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came in second to finish runner-up in the drivers’ standings at the expense of Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez.
Verstappen’s engineer meanwhile came over the team radio telling the Dutch driver his twilight drive at the Yas Marina circuit had been “sublime”.
Lewis Hamilton, who lost out on an eighth world title in last year’s controversial climax on this track, had to retire late on to end a season for the first time without a win.
But it was Leclerc who cried with relief as he crossed the line. “Yes, baby, we got it,” he said. “Good job guys, really good race.” After another hot day, the contest began with temperatures falling from 28 degrees as Alpha Tauri gave the departing Pierre Gasly a guard of honour as Aston Martin offered Vettel a cake ahead of his final race.
- ‘FREE TO RACE’ -
Verstappen made a clean start to lead from a thrusting Perez. Hamilton struggled to shake off Sainz and, as the Spaniard forced his way by, took to a run-off area to avoid a collision, moving up to fourth. The stewards cleared Sainz of any misdemeanour, leaving the Briton to give the place back.
By lap five, Hamilton had found his way back and passed Sainz in the chicane, but again struggled to pull clear, complaining his car was damaged as he rode the kerbs on the opening lap.
Russell, sixth behind Sainz, told the team that “Lewis needs to pick up the pace.... We can beat the Ferraris” but it was a forlorn plea as Sainz passed Hamilton again at Turn Nine on lap eight.
“You’re free to race,” Russell’s engineer responded when asked and he swiftly passed his teammate for fifth. Hamilton was clearly struggling for speed on the straights.
By lap 15, Verstappen led by 5.7 ahead of Perez, who was 1.3 clear of Leclerc as the first round of pit stops began.
Russell’s stop was delayed by three seconds and he swerved out across Norris’s McLaren, a reckless move that cost him a five-second penalty for an unsafe release.
By lap 32, the leaders were back in team order with Verstappen ahead of Perez, Leclerc and Sainz with Russell fifth ahead of a recovering Hamilton.
Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, in his last outing with Alpine before succeeding old friend and rival Vettel at Aston Martin, was called in to retire on lap 25 with a mechanical problem, not his first this year.
As Perez, Sainz and Russell pitted again Verstappen continued to dominate from Leclerc and Hamilton, all three on ageing rubber before Perez fought through to regain third on lap 46.
With ten laps to go, he was nine seconds adrift of Leclerc, setting up a tense finale as he sought to stay ahead of the charging Mexican on worn tyres as Hamilton slowed and retired with a hydraulics problem.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix results (top 10)
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Lando Norris (McLaren)
7. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
8. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
9. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
10. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
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