105 days. The countdown for the 2023 season has officially started in Abu Dhabi. The last day of school is the one in which emotions mix. In this case it was particularly exciting. The farewell of Sebastian Vettel, celebrated in a sort of holy week, in which everyone tried to accompany him as cleanly as possible towards his last checkered flag. The "goodbye", in a thousand quotation marks for Ricciardo, in tears at the end Grand Prix, as well as for Schumacher e Latifs, all pilots who have not found a place in the ruthless selection of the Circus.
Abu Dhabi has once again become Lewis Hamilton's nightmare, forced to retire after a season that never saw him on the top step of the podium, unlike his teammate. Happiness, that of Leclerc on the podium, after a last showdown, which mixes with the disappointment of Perez, who did not reach his goal of second place in championship pilots. In one way or another, Abu Dhabi has given back to Charles what had been taken away from him, namely the role of antagonist, of "vice" champion, putting him in front of a Red Bull. On this "strange", magical night that we would never want to end, let's see for the last time what our tops and flops are at Fanta.
TOP
CHARLES LECLERC: With a risky strategy, Charles made the difference on the track and pampered the tires until the last lap. He had said that if he didn't find himself in front of him immediately, Perez would have taken the position calmly and perseveringly. He did it and earned him second place in the drivers' championship, the best goal you can aspire to after a difficult season.
MAX STEPS: Max closes a season as first overall with victory number 15. He manages himself, manages his teammate's strategies until victory. He doesn't have to give them anything this time, the gap between the two demonstrates the quality of one and the other. Absolute top driver also at Fanta.
LANDO NORRIS: After a difficult weekend Norris and McLaren finished with both cars in the points, again with Norris ahead of Ricciardo, and also with the additional point for the fastest lap. A good way to get back up to prepare for an even more demanding 2023, also considering the imminent arrival of Oscar Piastri.
We cannot fail to give an honorable mention to Sebastian Vettel. He fought as much as possible against anyone who knocked on his door, attacking Ocon's Alpine with the hunger of those who don't want to be "satisfied" with concluding the last GP of their career. The team's strategy destroys his race but he doesn't get discouraged and finishes in the top 10. After everything that took place on and off the track, he overbearingly touched our hearts, in a final lap of honor that will never pay off the gratitude that F1, and all of us, owe him.
FLOPS
LEWIS HAMILTON: A bitter season that could not end in the worst way. With the aim of winning the season vanishing, the fight at home with Russell was lost. For the second year in a row, a maneuver on the first lap partly affects the race. Last year the world fight put him under pressure, this year the missing victory and the desire to finish at the top for 2023. His W13 betrays him by leaving him alone, which he feared would happen. We had staked practically everything on him at Fanta. Sin.
FERNAND ALONSO: In his heart he knew that something was wrong and for this reason the out didn't upset him. As always, if there's an Alpine with a problem, it's number 14. Unfortunately it also happened in the last season of the season, also for Seb who was unable to thank or say goodbye on the track at the end of the race. He comes behind Ocon in the championship, the only time together with 2015, in which he does worse than his teammate.
VALTTERI BOTTAS: A torture to see him on the track today. Zero points that taste absolutely nothing, like him in this disappointing ending.
