Max Verstappen breaches ‘agreement’ as worrying Lewis Hamilton sign spotted

F1 LIVE: Max Verstappen breaches agreement as ‘worrying’ Lewis Hamilton sign spotted (Image: Getty)

Max Verstappen’s landslide Abu Dhabi Grand Prix victory rounded off a dominant 2023 season for the Red Bull star, who had his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship sewn up long before the chequered flag was waved on Sunday.

This year’s finale was therefore defined by how the rest of the standings would be settled. Mercedes pipped Ferrari in a tight battle for P2 in the Constructors’ Championship, and Fernando Alonso did enough to clinch fourth individually behind Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez.

Drivers now have a long wait before the 2024 campaign gets underway in Bahrain, three months down the line in early March. But many have stuck around to conduct post-season tests in Abu Dhabi and get a head start on the competition.

Horner reflects on ‘very special’ car

Christian Horner believes that Red Bull’s car will go down as one of the best to ever race in F1 after breaking a multitude of long-standing records this year.

“This car is going to go down in the history books as a very, very special car,” Horner told the F1 website.

“To have won 21 races out of the 22. Just missing out in Singapore leaves room for improvement but, I mean, what a year.

“I think more than anything, for all the men and women behind the scenes back at the factory, across the whole business, all the support staff as well have made this happen.

“They’ve played their role in making and delivering this car and operating it.”

Christian Horner has underlined his pride in Red Bull’s achievements in 2023 (Image: GETTY)