McLaren on high of the world after Lando Norris wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

McLaren’s Lando Norris celebrates on the rostrum with a trophy after profitable the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 8, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

Lando Norris gained the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday (December 8, 2024) to ship McLaren’s first System One constructors’ title since 1998 after teammate Oscar Piastri collided with Max Verstappen on the opening lap and completed tenth.

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc had been second and third for Ferrari, McLaren’s historic rivals and the one workforce that would have crushed them to the championship.

“You all deserve this. Thanks a lot. It has been a particular 12 months,” mentioned Norris over the workforce radio after taking the chequered flag.

“Subsequent 12 months goes to be my 12 months too.”

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton completed fourth in his final race for Mercedes, overtaking teammate George Russell on the 58th and ultimate lap. He joins Leclerc at Ferrari subsequent season.

“Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion,” mentioned Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

Pink Bull’s Verstappen, who took his fourth successive drivers’ title in Las Vegas final month, ended up sixth after accumulating a 10-second penalty for a collision that left McLaren’s hopes completely in Norris’s arms.

Pierre Gasly was seventh for Alpine with Nico Hulkenberg eighth for Haas and Fernando Alonso ninth for Aston Martin.

McLaren completed with 666 factors to Ferrari’s 652 and Pink Bull’s 589.

Early drama

There was drama from the beginning as Verstappen and Piastri clashed, with McLaren locking out the entrance row in qualifying however Verstappen proper behind in fourth slot.

Each vehicles spun, the Australian resuming behind the sphere whereas Norris made a clear getaway from pole place and sped away.

Verstappen mentioned he had been “tremendous unfortunate”, and had been all the best way up the within of the McLaren into the primary nook, however the stewards and Piastri noticed it in any other case.

“Transfer of a world champion, that one,” commented Piastri sarcastically, earlier than he was handed a 10-second penalty of his personal after working into the again of Franco Colapinto’s Williams.

Verstappen served his penalty on lap 30, dropping from third to eleventh and seemingly taking a pop on the stewards over the radio.

“May we ask for 20 seconds, silly idiots,” mentioned the Dutch driver, who was handed two 10-second penalties in Mexico in October.

Leclerc moved by means of the sphere from nineteenth on the grid, as much as twelfth by the top of the primary lap and fourth by the point he pitted on the finish of lap 20 with teammate Sainz settled in second and Russell a distant third.

“Sadly, we had been beginning too far again to do something higher than what we did. I feel we did the utmost. It hurts when a season is so shut till the top,” mentioned Leclerc earlier than the rostrum celebrations.

Norris made his pitstop for exhausting tyres on the finish of lap 26, retaining the lead with a easy cease faster than both of the Ferraris.

Pink Bull’s Sergio Perez wrapped up his depressing season with yet one more retirement after a primary lap conflict with Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas despatched him spinning out. Workforce bosses will determine his future subsequent week.