Verstappen's Rwandan rehabilitation and Hamilton reflective - International media reacts

The 2024 F1 season has drawn to a close with a multitude of key talking points to sustain the championship through the winter break.

Lewis Hamilton's long Mercedes goodbye is now complete as he readies himself for the next chapter of his F1 career.

Max Verstappen will honoured at the FIA prize giving ceremony for clinching a fourth F1 drivers' title. Whilst in Kigali, he will complete his so-called community service.

Ferrari and McLaren's dormant rivalry has been revived this season, leaving F1 in a strong place heading into what is anticipated to be an extremely competitive 2025.

What did the rest of the world make of the year-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix? Find out as RacingNews365 takes you through the headlines of some of the biggest global publications.

🇬🇧 The Times - Lewis Hamilton: This has been the longest year of my life

British broadsheet The Times focused on Hamilton reflecting on his "turbulent" final season with Mercedes.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix brought the curtain down on the most successful associating in F1 history, with the seven-time drivers' champion headed for pastures new at Ferrari next season.

The 39-year-old finished fourth at the Yas Marina Circuit in a strong recovery drive from P16 on the grid, pulling off an audacious last lap move on George Russell to beat his team-mate on aggregate over their three seasons together.

🇳🇱 De Telegraaf - Max Verstappen to carry out FIA-imposed community service in Rwanda on Friday

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf ran with home son Verstappen's FIA-sanctioned community service, which will be carried out in Rwanda.

The 27-year-old will be there for the end-of-season FIA prize-giving gala, with his "work of public interest" a punishment for swearing during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this year.

"While in Kigali he will undertake some work with junior competitors as part of the grassroots development programme organised by the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC)," the FIA confirmed.

🇫🇷 L'Equipe - Max Verstappen to perform community service in Rwanda

Like De Telegraaf, French sports outlet L'Equipe focused on Verstappen's "work of public interest", with details emerging in the hours that followed the season-ending chequered flag at the Yas Marina Circuit.

It has long been known that his punishment was coming, but the FIA left it late to confirm the specifics.

The Dutchman himself alluded to it in his post-race media duties, with it subsequently being chased up from there.

🇮🇹 La Gazzetta dello Sport - McLaren-Ferrari, a great duel that is good for Formula 1

Italian sports publication La Gazzetta dello Sport covered the constructors' crown battle between Ferrari and McLaren.

The Woking squad ultimately held out to claim a first championship since 1998, whilst the Scuderia must wait to end what will soon be a 17-year title drought.

The principal focus was how beneficial the two storied teams duking it out at the sharp end is for F1, reviving a decades-old rivalry between the two.

🇪🇸 El País - Carlos Sainz, after his last race with Ferrari: “People can't imagine how excited I am to face what's coming next”

Spanish newspaper El País focused on Carlos Sainz, who signed-off his Ferrari career with second place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He and team-mate Charles Leclerc ultimately fell short of beating Lando Norris to secure a first constructors' title for the Maranello-based squad since 1998.

The Spaniard is joining Williams for the 2025 F1 season and beyond, with Lewis Hamilton taking his place at Ferrari.

🇦🇺 Herald Sun - ‘You can’t make this up’: Brad Pitt slammed for F1 podium act

Australian tabloid the Herald Sun covered fictional F1 action following the end-of-season Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, taking aim at Hollywood star Brad Pitt for filming a podium scene with Charles Leclerc.

The duties for the Monegasque driver came in the wake of Ferrari missing out on securing the constructors' championship at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The newspaper claimed fans felt it "rubbed salt in the wound" of the 27-year-old, who had just salvaged a real podium finish from a P19 start.