Norris takes vital pole at Abu Dhabi GP whilst disaster strikes for Ferrari

Lando Norris leads a McLaren front-row lockout at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after the Briton took pole position ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri, whilst disaster strikes for Ferrari. 

Feature image credit: McLaren Racing

McLaren had a perfect night at the Yas Marina Circuit, in Abu Dhabi, after Norris took home the final pole position of the season ahead of his teammate, Piastri. 

Heading into the event, McLaren holds a 21-point advantage over Ferrari in the constructors championship which will conclude on Sunday in the Formula 1 season finale. 

On the other side of the coin, Ferrari suffered a somewhat painful night. Carlos Sainz qualified third but Charles Leclerc endured a Q2 elimination, and will now start at the back of the grid following a 10-place grid penalty for a new energy store. 

Norris qualified on pole position, for the ninth time of his F1 career, with Piastri starting alongside him on the front row. As such, McLaren will have their 65th career front-row lock out in a vitally important weekend. Sainz is Ferrari’s leading driver for the grand prix, following Leclerc’s penalty and will start the race behind both McLarens in third. 

With an impressive qualifying performance – his last for Haas – Nico Hulkenberg qualified fourth ahead and the German had briefly held provisional pole position in Q3 before he was demoted by the two McLarens and Sainz. 

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen will occupy fifth on Sunday’s grid. The Dutchman had a scary moment in Q3 when the four-time world champion had a snap of oversteer in the final corner, nearly binning it into the barrier. Thankfully the world champion was able to keep it out of the barrier and continue. The other Red Bull of Sergio Perez completed the top 10, in 10th.

This left Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Mercedes’ George Russell, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas to fill the gaps in sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively.

THE. SAVE. OF. THE SEASON…#F1 / #AbuDhabiGP https://t.co/CokdKQOsBX

— Apex Motorsports (@ApexMSPRT) December 7, 2024

The two Visa Cash App RB drivers missed out on a Q3 top-10 shootout with Yuki Tsuonda starting ahead of his teammate Liam Lawson, in 11th and 12th. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll completed the session in 13th. Shockingly, Leclerc was knocked out of Q2 after the Monegasque exceeded track limits into turn 1 which put him 13th overall. After he serves his penalty, Leclerc will start the season finale at the back of the grid.

This could play a vital role in the world constructors championship battle.

Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, in his apparent final F1 race before heading to the World Endurance Championship with BMW, could only manage 15th at best. 

At the end of Q1, Williams’ Alexander Albon was the fastest driver and qualified 16th but the London-born Thai driver will start ahead of his teammate, Franco Colapinto – who qualified 19th. Both drivers will start at the back of the order following five-place grid penalties for exceeding new gearbox components which are outside their allocation.  

Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu finished his final F1 session – for now – in 17th. 

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton ended his qualifying session with the team, behind Zhou, in 18th. The seven-time world champion had picked up a bollard in the final sector, which was knocked off its perch by Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, and this cost him time in his unfortunate qualifying position. 

Alpine’s replacement driver, Jack Doohan, who has replaced Esteban Ocon for this weekend completes the 20-car field last. However, he will be promoted by three positions following the two Williams and Leclerc’s penalties.

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Piastri heads Norris in final practice of 2024 in F1 Abu Dhabi GP
• Both McLarens top second practice to end Friday’s action at Abu Dhabi GP
• Albon, Colapinto and Leclerc to take penalties for Abu Dhabi GP
• Leclerc fastest in Abu Dhabi GP FP1
• How can McLaren or Ferrari win the championship?
• Why is the F1 constructors championship so important?

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.