Press reviews of the F1 finale
“The omnivore got the perfect name in 1997”
November 27, 2023, 8:40 a.m
The last race of this Formula 1 season is a symbol for the whole year. At the front, Max Verstappen is doing his lap alone, behind him Ferrari and Mercedes are dueling. The international press places the world champion in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.
Netherlands
De Volkskrant: “Put the best driver in the best car and you get Max Verstappen, the omnipotence of Formula 1. The omnivore. Father Jos and mother Sophie chose the perfect name for their boy in 1997. Max. Maximum. It was a naming with care .”
AD: “Max Verstappen makes his amazing season a little better at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.”
The Telegraph: “Unprecedented consistency: Max Verstappen follows in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.”
Great Britain
Daily Mirror: “Max Verstappen was on pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and raced into the distance as usual. But the real battle was between Mercedes and Ferrari.”
The Guardian: “Verstappen was untouchable from pole to checkered flag. The gaps were so big that he could get out, have a cup of coffee, do a lap on the Space Invaders machine and still have time left. Abu Dhabi was the emphatic finish , as he and his Red Bull team ended arguably the most dominant season in Formula 1 history.”
Sun: “Max Verstappen won for the 19th time this season, while George Russell’s third place was enough to give Mercedes second place in the constructors’ championship – and $10 million.”
Daily Mail: “It’s a season that will be consigned to the dustbin of history for the Silver Arrows, just as it is one that Max Verstappen and an astonished audience will never forget.”
Spain
Marca: “Verstappen crowns a dream year.”
La Vanguardia: “The curtain is closing on Formula 1 (…). As has been the case all season, there was no discussion about the victory. Once again it was in the hands of Max Verstappen, who had the best year by a driver in the history of the formula 1 behind him. His achievements are incomparable and it will take many years to surpass them.”
Italy
La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Max Verstappen is the master of Formula 1 with 19 victories in 22 Grand Prix.”
France
Le Figaro: “The last Grand Prix was a reflection of the 2023 season, which did not inspire unbridled passion. It was difficult to shine in Verstappen’s colossal shadow.”
Austria
Courier: “Almost all of the year’s questions had already been answered before the last race of the Formula 1 season. Max Verstappen and Red Bull had been confirmed as world champions among drivers and designers for weeks, but a lot was still left unanswered at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday Game.”
Crown newspaper: “World champion Max Verstappen crowned his record year at the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi. Red Bull had a year for the history books with 21 successes in 22 races, only Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz prevented the Austrian from having a perfect season with a victory in Singapore -British racing team.”
Switzerland
View: “Win number 19 of the season for Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi! The Red Bull Dutchman ends the year the way he started it: with a jump to the top of the podium.”
Daily Gazette: “It’s a dominant season for a driver, the likes of which Formula 1 has never experienced. Verstappen won 19 of 22 races, and in Abu Dhabi he drove his 1,000th leading lap – in a single year. These are fabulous records.”