2024 F1 Round 24, Abu Dhabi GP: Norris Wins from Pole as McLaren Takes First Constructors’ Title in 26 Years, Hamilton Fourth in Mercedes Farewell

INKA Sports — The 2024 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concluded at Yas Marina on 8 December. Lando Norris led from pole position to win in 1 hour 26 minutes 33.291 seconds, completing a pole-to-win victory. The result secured McLaren’s first F1 constructors’ championship in 26 years, its previous title dating back to the David Coulthard and Mika Häkkinen era in 1998.

McLaren’s route to the title was far from straightforward, however. At Turn 1 on the opening lap, Oscar Piastri was hit on the left-rear wheel by Max Verstappen, who had dived down the inside. Both spun and dropped to the back. Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty for the incident, but fought back with an aggressive one-stop strategy to finish sixth. Piastri later also received a 10-second penalty after contact with Franco Colapinto. Despite a difficult race, he crossed the line tenth to add one more point to McLaren’s total.

Ferrari took second with Carlos Sainz, 5.832 seconds behind, while Charles Leclerc charged from 19th on the grid to third, finishing 31.928 seconds off the winner. The double podium was nevertheless insufficient to overturn McLaren’s points advantage. McLaren ended the 2024 season with 666 points, 14 ahead of Ferrari on 652.

Lewis Hamilton’s final race for Mercedes was equally eventful. Starting 16th, the seven-time world champion fought his way through the field and passed team-mate George Russell on the final lap to finish fourth, bringing his Silver Arrows career to a fitting close. After the race, Hamilton performed donuts on track in an emotional farewell to the fans. Russell finished just behind him in fifth.

Pierre Gasly beat Nico Hülkenberg to seventh, helping Alpine secure sixth in the constructors’ standings. Fernando Alonso finished ninth and Oscar Piastri tenth. Yuki Tsunoda lost heavily at the start because of a clutch problem, dropping eight places on the opening lap before finishing his season in 12th.

Four drivers failed to finish. Sergio Pérez collided with Valtteri Bottas on the opening lap and retired immediately with damage, ending what might have been his final race for Red Bull without completing a lap. Bottas continued for a while but also retired after locking up and hitting Kevin Magnussen on lap 30. Franco Colapinto suffered a puncture after contact with Oscar Piastri and later retired with a power-unit problem. Liam Lawson had a wheel fitted incorrectly during a pit stop, forcing him to return to the pits and earning him a stop-go penalty, before a late-race failure ended his afternoon.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix brought the 2024 F1 season to a close. McLaren reclaimed the constructors’ title after 26 years, while Max Verstappen had already sealed the drivers’ championship. Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz and several other drivers completed their final races for their respective teams. End-of-season farewells and anticipation for the next campaign came together to close out a season full of twists.