President Sheikh Mohamed and UAE royals attend F1 in Abu Dhabi

UAE leader joins thousands of race fans at Yas Marina Circuit as Formula One season draws to a close

President Sheikh Mohamed watches the final race of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 from Shams Tower at Yas Marina Circuit. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, Sheikh Suroor bin Mohamed and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, watch the final race. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed speaks with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, in Shams Tower at Yas Marina Circuit. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed at the Grand Prix with Sheikh Omar bin Zayed, deputy chairman of the board of trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed welcomes James Michel, former president of the Seychelles, at Yas Marina Circuit. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed greets Wavel Ramkalawan, President of the Seychelles. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Said bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Shams Tower. Ryan Carter / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Ryan Carter / Presidential Court

Sheikh Mubarak bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, right, with Sheikh Nahyan bin Diab Al Nahyan at Yas Marina Circuit. Ryan Carter / Presidential Court

Sheikh Abdullah with Sheikh Tahnoon in Shams Tower at Yas Marina Circuit. Ryan Carter / Presidential Court

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at Yas Marina Circuit. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Nahyan, Minister of State, and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, chairman of the Office of Development and Martyrs' Families Affairs at the Presidential Court, with Sheikha Salama bint Theyab at the Grand Prix. Hamad Al Kaabi / Presidential Court

The UAE's Al Fursan aerobatic team performs near Shams Tower at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Ryan Carter / Presidential Court

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and managing director and Group chief executive of Mubadala Investment Company. Abdulla Al Neyadi / Presidential Court

Sheikh Khaled and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed at the race. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed joined thousands of race fans at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday as the Formula One season hit the finishing line at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Sheikh Mohamed enjoyed the sporting spectacle alongside a high-level delegation which included Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai

The showpiece event has been part of the F1 calendar since 2009 and played host to one of the sport's greatest title showdowns in 2021, when Max Verstappen clinched his first drivers' championship with a remarkable last-lap victory over Britain's Lewis Hamilton, who was aiming to become the first man to secure eight world titles.

Dutch star Verstappen - who sealed his third consecutive title in Qatar last month - ended up on top of the podium once again in the UAE capital after earning a record-extending 19th victory in the 22-race season.

The Red Bull driver held off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was runner-up, third-placed Mercedes driver George Russell and teammate Sergio Perez, who carved his way up from a relatively modest position early on in the race to finish fourth.

After the 2023 season reached its finale in the UAE, the next F1 campaign will kick into high gear in the Middle East with a pair of Saturday night races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on March 2 and 9.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - in pictures

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