Abu Dhabi GP 2024
DECEMBER 7, 2024
Qualifying Report - Norris secures pole as McLaren locks front row
© McLaren
Lando Norris powered McLaren-Mercedes to a dominant 1-2 finish in qualifying for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, taking pole position ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. The result not only caps off McLaren’s remarkable late-season resurgence but also positions the team as favorites to claim the constructors’ championship in the season finale. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, who seemed poised to challenge for pole, settled for fifth.
Norris delivered a stunning 1m22.595 on his final lap in Q3, edging Piastri by 0.209 seconds. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari claimed third, 0.229 seconds off the pace, while Nico Hulkenberg of Haas impressed with a fourth-place finish. Verstappen, dominant through Q1 and Q2, faltered when it mattered most, failing to improve on his 1m22.945 and ending up fifth.
The session was particularly tough for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc, who briefly led Q2, had his fastest lap deleted for a track limits violation at Turn 1. With an additional grid penalty for a battery change, Leclerc will start from 19th. Ferrari’s constructors’ title hopes now rest solely on Sainz’s shoulders.
Q2 eliminations included Yuki Tsunoda (P11) and Liam Lawson (P12) in their RB-Honda's, Lance Stroll (P13) in his Aston Martin-Mercedes, Kevin Magnussen (P14) of Haas-Ferrari, and Zhou Guanyu (P15) of Sauber. Tsunoda and Lawson came close to breaking into Q3 but were edged out in the final moments as track conditions evolved.
The drama started early in Q1, where seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in 16th place. Hamilton’s final lap was compromised when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas knocked over a bollard at Turn 14, which obstructed Hamilton’s line and forced him to back off in the final corners. This marks a bitter end to Hamilton’s last qualifying session with Mercedes.
Joining Hamilton in Q1 exits were Alpine’s Jack Doohan (P17), Williams drivers Alex Albon (P18) and Franco Colapinto (P20), and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who dropped to 19th after his lap deletion in Q2. Leclerc’s disappointing qualifying session leaves Ferrari in a difficult position for the race.
Among the top midfield performers, Pierre Gasly secured sixth for Alpine, while George Russell placed seventh for Mercedes. Fernando Alonso delivered eighth for Aston Martin, ahead of Valtteri Bottas in ninth for Sauber. Sergio Perez rounded out the top 10 in what could be his final F1 appearance.
With McLaren’s front-row lockout and Ferrari and Red Bull struggling, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown in Abu Dhabi. McLaren’s constructors’ championship hopes hinge on a clean race, while Verstappen will aim to fight back from fifth. Leclerc faces an uphill battle to recover from the back, and Hamilton’s final Mercedes race begins far from where he expected.
As the curtain falls on the 2024 F1 season, McLaren’s resurgence and the unpredictability of qualifying have set the tone for a race that promises excitement, tension, and potentially dramatic outcomes.