Verstappen looks forward to final race: 'Hopefully we can do well'

The grandstands were still virtually deserted in Abu Dhabi, but the 20 F1 drivers have already completed their final parade lap of the '23 season. Soon, when the lights go out for the closing Grand Prix, Max Verstappen will start from pole: his 12th of this highly successful year. It was an unexpected pole, too, after the weekend's difficult start.

"Looking at how the weekend went up until that point, it was a good qualifying," Verstappen looked back on Saturday in hot Abu Dhabi during the drivers' parade. "I don't know why that is, we've been doing quite well here lately, but very, very pleased with that. It's the best starting position as well for today and hopefully we can have a strong race."

Charles Leclerc starts next to Verstappen on the front row, with the McLarens close behind. It might get exciting: "Normally our car is always quite good in the race, so it's all about just looking after your tyres, hopefully we can do that well," said the three-time world champion, who, with a win, passes Sebastian Vettel definitively in the string of wins in Formula 1. "Yeah, for sure, it's very cool, but it's also something that I never thought was possible in the first place, but now that we are here I hope that we can add a few more."

The Dutch fans - who will of course be present in Abu Dhabi - could also count on a word from Verstappen: "The last race of the season. It's been a long season but of course a very special year. And of course, I hope to end it here today in a good way with a victory."