F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Mercedes edge out Ferrari in battle for second place

Silver Arrows finish ahead of the Prancing Horse in constructors' championship

Race winner and world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull celebrates on the podium after his victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 26, 2023. Getty Images

Race winner Max Verstappen with his Red Bull team after the race. Getty Images

Fireworks explode after Max Verstappen wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. UAE Presidential Court

Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates his victory. AFP

Rd Bull's Max Verstappen crosses the finish line to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. EPA

Red Bull's Max Verstappen takes the chequered flag to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Getty Images

Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium with second place Charles Leclerc, left, of Ferrari and Mercedes' George Russell who was third. AFP

Max Verstappen performs donuts after winning. EPA

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen after the race. AP

Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing celebrates after winning the race. EPA

Winner Max Verstappen shakes hands with second-placed Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. Reuters

Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. AFP

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari during the race. Getty Images

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during the race. AFP

The Al Fursan aerobatic team and an Etihad plane perform a flyover prior to the race at Yas Marina Circuit. UAE Presidential Court

There are rivalries aplenty in any sport. Spectators of Formula One will be aware it isn’t known for being at the extreme end of the spectrum in this regard, but the jostling for position between four teams at the tail end of this year has generated just such a situation.

Going into the season finale, Mercedes led Ferrari by four points in the constructors' championship, while McLaren sat 11 points above Aston Martin.

The race is done and dusted now, of course, and both participants and spectators will know Mercedes and McLaren won these personal battles this time around.

In a season where you had Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and their Red Bull team streak into the lead from the word go, you can see why the other participants thought it best to concentrate on competition closer to home.

It isn’t just professional pride that causes this.

There is, of course, also the matter of around $10 million in prize money separating each position in the constructors’ championship, and the knock-on commercial effect that a higher placing, even just a single slot, can give you.

Ahead of the race, most of the drivers were relaxed about what lay ahead, with Mercedes’ George Russell and talking about a positive result being good for the team but adding: “It’s not going to change the world.”

To a greater of lesser extent, it was a view echoed by many of those involved in these two clashes ahead of the race at Yas Marina Circuit.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was a bit more blunt though. “It is the target to beat Mercedes in the constructors’ championship,” he said. “That is all that matters this weekend.”

In events where you have one individual as the main focus of attention, it is unusual to hear such a pertinent and frank remark.

Following today’s race, however, that can all now be set aside for the summer.

Still, if Red Bull carry on in the way they’re going there will be plenty of time to spark it all up again next season.