Abu Dhabi GP Race Report: “A Championship Decided, A Legacy Sealed”

The sun set over Yas Marina for the final time this season, but the spotlight couldn’t shine any brighter on two familiar silhouettes in scarlet red. The 16th and final round of the F1 Co-op Season 4 wasn’t just a title decider—it was a full-circle moment for two childhood friends whose intertwined fates had built one of the most compelling rivalries the sport has ever seen.

It all came down to this: Kruimel vs. The Captain. Ferrari vs. Ferrari. The reigning three-time champion versus the eternal challenger, both donning the prancing horse for one last battle. For one, it would be a crowning achievement; for the other, heartbreak again. And as fate would have it, they had chosen this to be their last dance in the sport.

Qualifying: Advantage The Captain

The intensity of the weekend was palpable as soon as the cars rolled out for Q3. The Captain set the tone early, immediately lighting up the time sheets with a 1:20.749 on his first run. Kruimel, opting for an off-sync strategy, came out later and slotted into P1 with a 1:20.584.

But The Captain wasn’t done.

Knowing Kruimel had improved, The Captain took one final shot, perfectly timing the start of his lap to avoid traffic and hit the peak of track evolution. What followed was nothing short of a masterpiece. Nearly half a second faster than his previous best, he tightened his grip on pole by extending the gap to over three-tenths. Kruimel was forced to settle for second.

It was a psychological blow. On paper, The Captain held all the cards for Sunday—but he needed more than a win. He needed hope. He needed fate.

Race Start: The Tension Breaks

As the five lights went out, the entire paddock held its breath. The Captain launched cleanly, but all eyes were on Kruimel. Would he get off the line well? Would Russell, starting just behind, get a flyer and dive alongside? Might Kruimel go for the outside line and miss the fact that Russell is already there? Could that send him sideways into Turn 1, opening the door wide for The Captain to snatch the title? Was there a chance Kruimel would throw it all away before even reaching the apex? A poor start, and the championship could be lost in the first 200 meters.

But it didn’t happen.

Kruimel had a near-perfect getaway, tucking in neatly behind The Captain as George Russell, starting from P3, bogged down and allowed Verstappen and Leclerc to sweep past. The Ferraris led through Turn 1—Kruimel surviving the most dangerous moment of his season.

But The Captain wasn’t waiting around.

In stunning form, he immediately broke DRS range, pulling over a second clear by the end of lap 1. Kruimel, now under pressure from Leclerc, was already on the defensive. And then came the attack from Verstappen, who forced his way past Kruimel on lap 3. The reigning champion offered no resistance.

The message was clear: he was driving for the title, not the race.

Mid-Race: Calculated Risks and Quiet Drama

On lap 8, The Captain blinked first, diving into the pits for a clean 2.5-second stop and switching to hards. The undercut worked to perfection. Kruimel and Verstappen responded a lap later, but by the time they rejoined, the gap had grown.

Then came the twist.

Verstappen, now second, reported power unit issues on lap 11. His pace crumbled, and Kruimel—patient as ever—reeled him in. By lap 13, aided by DRS, he swept into second. It was a pivotal move. A win was off the table, but P2 was enough. The Captain led by 6 seconds, but it could have been 60—it wouldn’t have mattered.

The rest of the race passed like a slow-burning tragedy for The Captain. He was untouchable, unstoppable, unequalled. Lap after lap, he pulled clear, eventually building a near 9-second lead over his teammate. But the result never changed.

Kruimel, unfazed, unshaken, drove the perfect damage limitation race.

As the chequered flag waved, The Captain crossed the line in dominant fashion to claim the race victory—but the camera quickly cut to Kruimel, fist in the air as he crossed in P2.

The F1 24 Co-op World Champion.

For the fourth time in a row.

Post-Race Reactions: Two Champions, One Crown

The Captain, stoic yet gracious in defeat:

“More than this, I couldn’t do. I’ve been dominant all weekend, but the gap in the standings was too big. I needed luck, and it didn’t come—but honestly, I’m not sure I would’ve wanted it that way. We lived our dream together, and I’ll celebrate his title like it’s my own.”

Kruimel, reflective but triumphant:

“Thank you all so much. The Captain was unbelievably fast today—I couldn’t touch him. But I knew what I had to do. Even P3 would’ve been enough. I kept my head down, and everything fell into place. He pushed me to the limit this year, and I’m proud to have come out on top one last time.”

Final Standings: Legacy Sealed

• Kruimel – 289 pts
• The Captain – 277 pts

Twelve points. After 16 rounds, countless wheel-to-wheel duels, and a rivalry spanning years and teams, that was the difference.

Kruimel joins the pantheon of greats, a four-time champion. The Captain walks away without a title, but with respect, admiration, and proof that pace was never the issue.

The End of an Era

For those who followed their journey from karting prodigies to Ferrari teammates, this final race was a bittersweet masterpiece. They were rivals and brothers. Teammates and adversaries. Two sides of the same coin.

From the Mercedes Academy to the highest echelons of Formula 1, from Van Amersfoort Racing to Aston Martin and Williams, and finally united at Ferrari—Kruimel and The Captain gave the sport more than just statistics. They gave it heart. They gave it a story.

And now, as they hang up their gloves, the F1 world wonders: will we ever see such a duo again?

We may not. But we’ll always remember what it felt like to witness it.

Grazie ragazzi.