Verstappen: Red Bull will be back stronger next year

Max Verstappen reflected on a second place finish in Abu Dhabi, some distance behind winner Lewis Hamilton, and felt that the Mercedes car was just too quick this weekend.

Hamilton was on pole and led from start to finish in a procession reminiscent of some of the Brit's wins from the past, leaving young challengers Charles Leclerc and Verstappen in his wake.

Speaking to David Coulthard post-race, the Dutchman also said he believed it had been a positive season for Red Bull all-round and that the team will work hard in the close season to ensure they are even better next year.

He said: "[We] few little things [with the car] today, at the end of the day it wouldn't have made a difference in terms of position.

"We had to do a bit of a different strategy to Ferrari, they pitted early and we went long, they overtook us in the first lap but I think after that our pace was quite decent. Mercedes and Lewis were a bit too quick.

"As a whole I think it has been a positive season and of course to be P3 in the championship is a nice ending.

"We are all working hard but it's good to take some time off and be fully recharged for next year and come back stronger."