Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Norris fends off Ferrari duo for McLaren title

Sunday, 08 December 2024 at 15:34

McLaren are the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors World Champions after a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, won by Lando Norris who intends to be the Drivers; Champion in 2025,

One would think Max Verstappen was intent on gatecrashing McLaren's title-winning party, skittling into Piastri on the opening lap, both cars spinning as Norris scuttled into the lead with Carlos Sainz tucking into P2.

McLaren fans dared dream of a one-two tonight, after Norris and Piastri annexed the front row with a potent display of dominance in Qualifying on Saturday. But that dream went sour in less than a minute from the start of the race at Yas Marina Circuit.

Nevertheless, Norris did enough by controlling the race from the moment mayhem ensued behind him. Ferrari gave it a good shot with Carlos Sainz and their crew servicing their drivers impeccably.

But likewise, the McLaren crew never put a foot wrong as they too serviced their charge in a flash. The stakes have hardly been higher for the sport's great teams. Norris is a worthy vice-Champion and will go into the winter break with the biggest smile of all thanks to winning the finale, perhaps only usurped by Verstappen who will nod off every night dreaming of F1 world title number five.

Beaming from ear-to-ear, Norris told Nico Rosberg in Parc Ferme: "It feels incredible. Not for myself but for the whole team. They have done an amazing job from where we were at the beginning. I'm so proud of everyone. It's been a lovely journey. To end the season like this is perfect.

Norris: We are going to celebrate!

"For us to win the Constructors' Championship after 26 years is pretty special. We are going to celebrate. This is a historic moment for the team. It's going to be a good night!" predicted the 25-year-old Briton.

Credit to Ferrari who did what they could firmly on the backfoot. In his final GP in Red, Carlos Sainz fittingly finished second heading home teammate Leclerc. But it was too little too late for the great Italian team, who will have to wait at least another year before they can end their F1 title drought.

Sainz said afterwards: "Obviously, a bit of a bittersweet feeling in the end P2 I think was the maximum we could do today given the pace of Lando in the McLaren.

"I gave it everything, especially the first stint. It looked like we could hang onto them, then as soon as we put the hard tyres, they just seemed to be that one or two tenths quicker per lap, like we’ve seen all weekend, and they just got a bit out of reach.

"Congratulations, first of all, to McLaren. They deserve this championship. They’ve been rock solid in the last two-thirds of the championship and they’ve been incredible," added Sainz.

Leclerc drove a stormer of a race after suffering penalties and was doomed to P19 on the grid. But the Ferrari driver was into P6 within a dozen laps from the start. And thereafter did all he could for the Ferrari cause. But by the time the lights dimmed on the seven-star Yas Marina Circuit, the score was McLaren 666, Ferrari 652.

Leclerc: We started too far back to do anything better than what we did

After finishing, P3 Leclerc said of his night at YMC: "I knew I had to be very aggressive, so on Lap 1 I took all the risks possible to gain as many places as possible to be in a good position for the rest of the race. Unfortunately, we were starting too far back to do anything better than what we did. I think we did the maximum. It hurts when a season is so close until the end."

Ironically, McLaren may well provide inspiration to make that long overdue Championship winning comeback. Although Piastri scored a point for P10 in a wayward race for him, the night belonged to teammate Norris for victory and the occasion belongs to Zak Brown and Andrea Stella who have turned troubled also-rans into F1 World Champions in half a dozen years.

A constructors' F1 title for the first time this century, a first in 26 years. Surely Ron Dennis will be smiling, proud even, as his legacy is intrinsically woven into McLaren's history. They winning again is great for the sport numbed on the monotomous excellence of Red Bull and Mercedes. Papaya is a fresh breath of air for the sport.

Hamilton's final Grand Prix for Mercedes before Ferrari adventure

Lewis Hamilton drove a storming final race for Mercedes, converting P18 after a disappointing Qualifying to P4. The seven-time F1 World Champion started the race on Pirelli Hards, the only one to do so. He took it long, and in the end on Mediums carved his way through the field for a memorable final race for Mercedes.

It was typical Hamilton, with his heir apparent Russell following his teammate across the line in P5. The signing-off that transpired was emotional to say the least.

Verstappen toiled out of victory contention, apart from the brief P2 cameo, to take P6 while Sergio Perez's miserable season ended... miserably. Last classified after spinning out early on in the race. His career probably over at Red Bull.

Pierre Gasly again delivered heroics for Alpine, ensuring they finish P6 thanks to a late-season flurry that saw them shoot up the standings. P7 made him the Best of the Rest. In the other car, replacing Esteban Ocon, Jack Doohan finished P15 in his F1 debut.

Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg thanked Haas with P8 before his departure to Sauber, while Kevin Magnussen finished P16 and last of the cars running after colliding with the Sauber of Valtteri Bottas. Both veterans are not expected to be on the grid next year.

Fernando Alonso was P9 after a lonely drive to cap a highly disappointing season for Aston Martin. Stroll laboured to P14.

Report in progress...

2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Result

How the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Unfolded

Grid: Everyone on Yellow band Pirelli mediums, except Hamilton in P16 on Hards

Lap 1: Chaos! Verstappen and Piastri make contact. Bottas tags Perez who spins. Leclerc from P19 to P8. Hamilton in P12 chasing Verstappen who recovered. Norris lads from Sainz with Gasly P3, Russell P4 and Hulkenberg P5.

Lap 2: Perez stops to trigger a Virtual Safety Car. Piastri down in P18. The title battle is very much on. Gasly defending P3 from Russell.

Lap 4: Piastri clatters into Colapinto.

Lap 5: The McLaren pits for tyres emerging 25,0s behind P17 Doohan. Colapinto is a further 35.0s adrift.

Lap 7: Leclerc gets past Magnussen into P7 Alonso next up, a second or so up the road. Verstappen gets penalty for Piastri move.

Lap 9: Piastri gets penalty for Colapinto punt. Verstappen up to P8 getting past Magnussen with ease. Leclerc gest by Alonso to claim p6.

Lap 11: Hamilton and Lawson battle for P10, the Mercedes getting ahead.

Lap 12: Top 10

Lap 12: Leclerc on the move takes Hulkenberg to P5.

Lap 13: Verstappen takes P6 from Alonso who pits for first stop with Hulkenberg.

Lap 14: Norris's lead pegged to just under four-tenths of a second by Sainz, who is ten seconds up on Russell in P3.

Lap 15: Gasly pits from P3, emerges behind Doohan who moves to gift his teammate P9. Top eight have yet to stop, with Gasly highest placed of the early stoppers.

Lap 17: Leclerc within DRS of Russell in P3. Gasly gets by Tsunoda for P8.

Lap 19: Gasly is the first of the front runners to pit. Norris leads by four seconds from Sainz.

Lap 21: Leclerc pits to undercut Russell for P3, and emerges behind Gasly in P8.

Lap 22: Mercedes have chosen not to respond to Charles Leclerc's pit stop.

Lap 24: Tsunodapassed by both Gasly and Leclerc for P6 and P7 respectively.

Lap 25: Leclerc overtakes Gasly. Lawson has a badly attached wheel, and has to stop again to rectify it.

Lap 26: Sainz pits from P2 and emerges P3 on Hards.

Lap 27: McLaren service Norris in a couple of seconds, he emerges in the lead by two seconds over Sainz. Verstappen in P3 and Hamilton in P4 yet to stop.

Lap 27: Russell pits, emerging 3.0s behind Leclerc in the battle for which is effectively P3.

Lap 28: Colapinto DNF.

Lap 30: Verstappen pits, and serves penalty to emerge P11 while calling the stewards "stupid idiots" over team radio. Norris leads Sainz by two seconds. Hamilton in P3, on Hards yet to stop, 13.0s down on the leader.

Lap 32: Bottas and Magnussen, who spins around. The Sauber suffers a DNF.

Lap 33: Piastri serves 10.0s penalty emerging P15.

Lap 35: Hamilton finally boxes for fresh Mediums (with all around him on Hards) coming out ahead of Alonso in P7.

Lap 37: Verstappen gets past Alonso for P8, chasing Hamilton.

Lap 38: Top 10 After all stops: