Formula 1’s 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Review
Mclaren holds on to Win the Constructors’ Championship
Under the sun-soaked skies of Yas Marina Circuit, the 2024 Formula 1 season reached its dramatic conclusion with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. McLaren cemented their return to glory with a dominant display, as Lando Norris led from pole to take a commanding victory, securing the team’s first constructors’ championship in 26 years.
The race unfolded with all the hallmarks of a thrilling season finale—early clashes, strategic battles, and standout performances. Charles Leclerc delivered a stunning charge from the back of the grid, while Lewis Hamilton bid an emotional farewell to Mercedes with a spirited drive. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri faced a challenging day amidst the team’s celebration, as chaos unfolded behind Norris’s serene run to the checkered flag.
With triumphs, farewells, and fiery on-track action, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix served as a fitting capstone to a season full of twists and turns, leaving fans eager for what is to come in 2025.
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Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying
McLaren dominated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session, with Lando Norris clinching pole position ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris’s stunning lap of 1:22.595 secured the top spot, with Piastri just two-tenths behind, setting the stage for a strong constructors’ title push. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz delivered a commendable performance to take third, while Nico Hulkenberg surprised the paddock with a sensational fourth-place finish in his final outing for Haas. Despite showing flashes of speed, Max Verstappen could only manage fifth after a costly error on his final lap, while Pierre Gasly continued Alpine’s impressive form with sixth.
George Russell struggled with grip issues and settled for seventh in his Mercedes, just ahead of Fernando Alonso, who delivered a solid eighth-place performance for Aston Martin. Valtteri Bottas earned a well-deserved ninth for Kick Sauber, drawing applause from his team, while Sergio Perez completed the top ten in a quiet session for Red Bull. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc endured a frustrating qualifying as his Q2-leading lap was deleted for track limits, dropping him to P14 and relegating him to a back-of-the-grid start due to a penalty.
In Q1, Lewis Hamilton’s farewell to Mercedes took a disappointing turn as he collided with a loose bollard, damaging his car and leaving him stranded in P18. The seven-time champion admitted his mistake, marking a tough end to his qualifying career with the Silver Arrows. Hulkenberg caused a stir in Q3, briefly claiming the provisional pole before the McLaren drivers reclaimed dominance. With McLaren locking out the front row and Ferrari in contention, the stage is set for an electrifying season finale under the Yas Marina Circuit floodlights.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Race Day
The 2024 Formula 1 season reached its grand finale in Abu Dhabi, where Lando Norris showcased his dominance by winning the season-ending race and securing McLaren’s first constructors’ championship since 1998. Starting from pole, Norris remained calm amidst first-lap chaos that saw his teammate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen clash for second place. The incident sent Piastri spinning down the order, earning Verstappen a penalty for causing the collision. Piastri’s troubles compounded with a penalty for hitting Franco Colapinto’s Williams, further hampering his race.
Meanwhile, Norris steadily extended his lead over Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who delivered a strong drive to second place in his last race for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc provided one of the race’s highlights, storming from P19 on the grid to claim third place, underlining Ferrari’s competitive finish to the season. Behind them, a gripping intra-team battle between Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell saw Hamilton snatch fourth in the final laps, ending his storied career with Mercedes on a high note.
Chaos, Penalties, and Recovery Drives
Max Verstappen managed to recover from his early penalty to finish sixth, while Pierre Gasly’s seventh-place finish helped Alpine secure sixth in the constructors’ standings. Nico Hulkenberg capped his Haas career with eighth place, followed by Fernando Alonso in ninth for Aston Martin. Piastri’s challenging afternoon ended with a 10th-place finish, salvaging a single point for McLaren as they celebrated their constructors’ triumph.
Outside the points, Alex Albon finished 11th for Williams, while Yuki Tsunoda claimed 12th for RB, and Zhou Guanyu ended his Kick Sauber career in 13th. Lance Stroll followed in 14th, ahead of Alpine rookie Jack Doohan in 15th. Kevin Magnussen concluded his final outing with Haas in 16th. Liam Lawson’s race ended with a late retirement due to car issues.
The retirements of Valtteri Bottas and Franco Colapinto, both leaving their respective teams, added to the race’s drama, while Sergio Perez’s Lap 1 spin brought his tumultuous season to an early end.
A Historic Moment for McLaren
Norris’s win, along with the strong performance by McLaren throughout the season, ensured that the Woking-based team claimed their first constructors’ championship in 26 years. After the race, Norris reflected, “It feels incredible, not for myself but for the whole team. The team have done an amazing job this year to come from where we were at the beginning. I’m so proud of everyone—it’s been a lovely journey, and to end the season like this is perfect.”
2024 Abu Dhabi Final Standings
| RANK | DRIVER | COUNTRY | TEAM | FASTEST LAP |
| 1 | LANDO NORRIS | BRITAIN | MCLAREN | |
| 2 | CARLOS SAINZ JR | SPAIN | FERRARI | |
| 3 | CHARLES LECLERC | MONACO | FERRARI | |
| 4 | LEWIS HAMILTON | BRITAIN | MERCEDES | |
| 5 | GEORGE RUSSEL | BRITAIN | MERCEDES | |
| 6 | MAX VERSTAPPEN | NETHERLANDS | RED BULL | |
| 7 | PIERRE GASLY | FRANCE | ALPINE | |
| 8 | NIKO HULKENBERG | GERMANY | HAAS | |
| 9 | FERNANDO ALONSO | SPAIN | ASTON MARTIN | |
| 10 | OSCAR PIASTRI | AUSTRALIA | MCLAREN | |
| 11 | ALEXANDER ALBON | THAILAND | WILLIAMS | |
| 12 | YUKI TSUNODA | JAPAN | RB | |
| 13 | ZHOU GUANYU | CHINA | SAUBER | |
| 14 | LANCE STROLL | CANADA | ASTON MARTIN | |
| 15 | JACK DOOHAN | AUSTRALIA | ALPINE | |
| 16 | KEVIN MAGNUSSEN | DENMARK | HAAS | 1:25.637 |
| RETIRED | LIAM LAWSON LAP 55 | NEW ZEALAND | RB | |
| RETIRED | VALTERRI BOTTAS LAP 30 | FINLAND | SAUBER | |
| RETIRED | FRANCO COLAPINTO LAP 26 | ARGENTINA | WILLIAMS | |
| RETIRED | SERGIO PEREZ LAP 0 | MEXICO | RED BULL |
Looking Ahead
With the 2024 season now complete, the teams will reconvene at Yas Marina Circuit for post-season testing on December 10. The focus will then shift to the 2025 campaign, with pre-season testing in Bahrain scheduled for February 26-28. The new season kicks off in Australia from March 14-16, marking the start of another year of thrilling Formula 1 action.
