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McLaren Dominates Qualifying as Hamilton Exits Early at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session delivered surprising results as McLaren secured a front-row lockout, with Lando Norris clinching pole position.
Norris clocked an impressive 1:22.595, narrowly outpacing teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished just 0.209 seconds behind.
Carlos Sainz secured third for Ferrari, while Nico Hulkenberg, briefly topping the timesheets, ended fourth for Haas. Max Verstappen of Red Bull completed the top five, trailing by 0.350 seconds.
Lewis Hamilton’s final race weekend with Mercedes took an unexpected turn, as the seven-time world champion was eliminated in Q1, placing 18th.
His exit stemmed from an incident involving Kevin Magnussen.
The Haas driver dislodged a bollard while attempting to clear the racing line, which then became lodged under Hamilton’s car, compromising his performance and setup.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc faced challenges of his own. Despite initially progressing to Q2, he received a 10-place grid penalty and saw his lap time deleted for exceeding track limits, relegating him to the back of the grid.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez narrowly escaped Q1 elimination. The Red Bull driver had his lap reinstated after a track limits violation was overturned by the stewards, allowing him to qualify 10th.
Perez’s struggle with consistency this season has been evident, having failed to advance past Q1 six times in 2024.
Pierre Gasly delivered a strong performance for Alpine, securing sixth.
Mercedes’ George Russell managed seventh, while Fernando Alonso placed eighth for Aston Martin. Valtteri Bottas, driving for Kick Sauber, and Perez rounded out the top ten.
This session marked a remarkable achievement for McLaren, as both Norris and Piastri demonstrated exceptional pace.
Norris’ pole position highlights the team’s continued resurgence in the latter half of the season.
Hulkenberg’s performance for Haas also stood out, showcasing the team’s improvements despite their usual midfield positioning.
In contrast, Hamilton’s unexpected elimination and Leclerc’s penalty underscore the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Verstappen, though not at his dominant best, remains a threat starting from fifth, while Sainz offers Ferrari’s best hope for a strong race result.
As the grid lines up for Sunday’s finale, McLaren’s dominant showing and the dramatic twists in qualifying promise an exciting conclusion to the 2024 Formula 1 season.
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