Lando Norris led team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren sealed an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix front-row lockout that puts them on the verge of Constructors’ Championship glory. McLaren had already established themselves as clear favorites to claim a first constructors’ title since 1998 as they entered the season finale with a comfortable 21-point lead over Ferrari. Their position was significantly strengthened in qualifying as Norris saved his best performance for last, edging out Piastri to capture pole position.
Ferrari’s hopes of a comeback took a severe blow when Charles Leclerc faced a Q2 exit due to a track limits breach, which confined him to starting from the back row of the grid after receiving a 10-position penalty for taking a new battery earlier in the weekend. Despite Carlos Sainz managing to secure third on the grid for Ferrari, the Italian team knows they will need an extraordinary performance in the race to overturn their points deficit—something that seems increasingly unlikely given the current form of McLaren.
While many anticipated Max Verstappen to be McLaren’s primary competitor for pole, the reigning world champion experienced an uncharacteristically lackluster performance, finishing fifth overall. However, he was later promoted to fourth due to a grid penalty imposed on Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg demonstrated impressive pace to initially qualify fourth but fell back to seventh after receiving a three-place penalty for an infringement during Q1. This demotion opened the door for Pierre Gasly to move up, placing him fifth and strengthening Alpine’s position in the constructor’s battle against Haas.
George Russell, who had recorded two consecutive pole positions prior to this event, qualified sixth but could not match the blistering pace of the McLarens. Conversely, Lewis Hamilton faced a disappointing 18th place after an unfortunate Q1 exit that was the result of a series of misfortunes, culminating in a bollard being knocked into his path, hindering his attempt to improve his time. This was a particularly poignant moment, as it would be Hamilton’s final race in Mercedes colors before his much-anticipated switch to Ferrari.
Fernando Alonso secured eighth position for Aston Martin, showcasing competitive pace throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas enjoyed his best qualifying performance of the season in his final race for Sauber, managing to outpace Red Bull’s Sergio Perez to start from ninth.
As the qualifying sessions unfolded, McLaren had clearly demonstrated their strength by dominating practice sessions leading up to the event. However, a moment of tension arose during Q1 and Q2 when Verstappen seemed poised to challenge for pole. The Dutch driver had the advantage of a single, high-quality lap to progress through Q2 but ultimately failed to capitalize on the opportunity, ending with a marginal improvement over his first attempt. Norris and Piastri took full advantage of the situation in Q3, both comfortably surpassing Verstappen’s efforts.
The implications of Leclerc’s unfortunate exit could not be overstated. It was compounded by the luckless weekend he had experienced thus far, including battling food poisoning earlier in the week and a technical failure during practice that led to his grid penalty. Now forced to start from a position further down the grid, his hopes of assisting Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship were severely diminished.
As McLaren sets their sights on finishing the race strongly, they can clinch the title by simply outscoring Ferrari. A combined effort to maintain their positions would yield more than enough points for McLaren to secure the coveted championship. The anticipation for the race was palpable, considering the stakes involved for both McLaren and Ferrari.
As race day approached, the focus shifted not only to the thrilling competition on track but also to the broader implications for the drivers involved. Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes marked a significant transition in his illustrious career, while McLaren aimed to end their long championship drought, making for an exhilarating season finale. The excitement surrounding the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix extended beyond mere numbers; it encapsulated the dreams, aspirations, and relentless pursuits of all involved in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:22.595 |
| 2) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.209 |
| 3) Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +0.229 |
| 4) Nico Hulkenberg* | Haas | +0.291 |
| 5) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.350 |
| 6) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +0.389 |
| 7) George Russell | Mercedes | +0.537 |
| 8) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.601 |
| 9) Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | +0.609 |
| 10) Sergio Perez | Red Bull | +0.669 |
| Knocked out in Q2 | ||
| 11) Yuki Tsunoda | RB | 1:23.419 |
| 12) Liam Lawson | RB | 1:23.472 |
| 13) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:23.784 |
| 14) Charles Leclerc** | Ferrari | 1:23.833 |
| 15) Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1:23.877 |
| Knocked out in Q1 | ||
| 16) Alex Albon*** | Williams | 1:23.821 |
| 17) Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 1:23.880 |
| 18) Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:23.887 |
| 19) Franco Colapinto*** | Williams | 1:23.912 |
| 20) Jack Doohan | Alpine | 1:24.105 |
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