BRAKING: Hamilton OUT in shock early exit as Red Bull star… Read more
F1 Qualifying Results: Hamilton OUT in shock early exit as Red Bull star
In a dramatic and eventful qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris stunned the field by claiming pole position late in the day, alongside teammate Oscar Piastri, who secured second. This marked an impressive performance for McLaren, as they locked out the front row for the race, signaling a strong challenge from the team.
Carlos Sainz will begin the race from third, while Nico Hulkenberg, who had briefly topped the timing boards during the session, will start from fourth. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen will line up fifth, a position that was unexpected given Red Bull’s dominant form throughout the season.
One of the biggest shocks of the day was the early exit of Lewis Hamilton, who will start the race from a disappointing 18th position. This outcome was a result of a mishap during his Q1 run. In an effort to secure a better lap time and advance to Q2, Hamilton was affected by an incident involving Kevin Magnussen. The Danish driver knocked a bollard onto the track, which ended up getting lodged under Hamilton’s Mercedes. The obstruction damaged Hamilton’s setup, forcing him to retire early from qualifying and missing the cut for the second session.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc’s qualifying session was equally tumultuous. The Ferrari driver had his lap time deleted in Q2 for a track limits violation, which sent him to the back of the grid after a 10-place grid penalty was applied. Leclerc’s misfortune came after a frustrating run where his pace was compromised, and his error in exceeding track limits meant he could not progress.
Sergio Perez also had a nerve-wracking qualifying session, narrowly avoiding elimination in Q1. His lap time was initially deleted due to a track limits violation, but after a review by the stewards, his time was reinstated, allowing him to continue into Q2. The Mexican driver’s luck came as a relief, considering the tense competition from both his teammate Verstappen and other contenders for strong grid positions.
The session was a rollercoaster of emotions for many teams, with some drivers benefiting from the decisions of the stewards, while others struggled with mechanical issues or mistakes. For Hamilton, the disappointment of qualifying 18th on what could be his final weekend with Mercedes added another layer of pressure as he hopes for a strong race result. On the other hand, McLaren’s front-row lockout injected excitement into the weekend, with Norris’s late charge for pole raising hopes of a competitive race.
Overall, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session set the stage for an unpredictable and dramatic race, with McLaren’s strong showing, Verstappen’s solid performance, and the various penalties and controversies adding to the intrigue. As the grid shapes up, all eyes will be on how these events unfold on race day, with potential for surprises and high-stakes racing.
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