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
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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
