Norris: It's been a rollercoaster of a season

McLaren had a tough start to their 2023 season, their MCL60 not up to its name commemorating the team's 60th year, after their founder the late Bruce McLaren began the story back in 1963.

The team suffered with some turbulence, as Andreas Seidl left them to spearhead Audi's F1 project with Sauber, replaced by Andrea Stella. Also James Key followed Seidl to Audi/Sauber after being held accountable for the MCL60's shortcomings.

However under Stella's watch, McLaren went on an upward trajectory, a midseason upgrade to their car in Austria allowing drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to deliver nine podium finishes, putting the team second in the pace pecking order behind Red Bull.

Norris who went delivered seven of those podiums, is looking to finish his season on a high, after a crash early on in the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, saw him retire on the spot.

"The season finale is here!" the Briton trumpeted. "The Las Vegas GP didn't end how I wanted it to end, but I'm feeling good and excited to go racing again.

"Thank you once again to everyone who's worked hard to ensure I have a car to drive this weekend, and thanks to all the fans who've sent me messages over the last few days," he added, speaking in McLaren's Abu Dhabi preview.

"It's been a rollercoaster of a season," Norris claimed. "From where we started to where we are is all the result of a lot of people's hard work. It's only right for us to go and do our best to finish the season with more points for the team."

Piastri, who will conclude his rookie F1 season in Abu Dhabi, commented: "I'm looking forward to returning to Abu Dhabi.

"I have some great memories of racing in the junior categories there and, of course, it's where I did my first rookie test with McLaren last year. 2023 has been fast-paced in so many ways and it's been a great year of steep learning for me.

"Some of the results I've had will remain with me forever, and the team and I are looking forward to finishing off the season with the best result possible.

"It's the final push and the sensational spirit within the racing team and back at the factory will get us over the line," the Australian concluded.

Stella, who also hits a milestone in Abu Dhabi, the conclusion of his first season as Team Principal of the legendary team said: "We've arrived at the end of a long season of racing.

"The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is an important event for us, as we finish off our battle in the Constructors' Championship. We go into the weekend more positively than the previous one, as the Yas Marina Circuit should suit our car better.

"As we approach the end of the season, I have to say that I'm so proud of every single person at McLaren, both trackside and back in Woking," the Italian revealed.

"The entire team has worked incredibly hard from the challenging start we had in Bahrain, right through to being in a position where we can fight not only for good points, but also for podiums.

"We'll take this final opportunity to do our best to finish the season on a high," Stella concluded.

While McLaren are more the 100 points off third place in the 2023 F1 Constructors' Championship - currently occupied by Ferrari - the Woking squad are aiming to consolidate their fourth place in the standings, as they are now 11 points of Aston Martin who are fifth.