2024 System 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Highlights

Introduction

Lando Norris has introduced the season to an in depth in model by successful the 2024 System 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in dominant type, the Briton placing in an assured drive to say victory and serving to McLaren clinch their first constructors’ championship since 1998.

It was a powerful begin to the race for pole-sitter Norris amid chaos behind him, with Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen making contact in a battle for second, which noticed the latter obtain a penalty and the previous drop down the order. There was additionally additional hassle for the Australian, who obtained his personal punishment for a collision with the Williams of Franco Colapinto.

And whereas numerous different fights performed out throughout the sphere – which noticed a strong efficiency from McLaren’s title rivals Ferrari – Norris stored a cool head up entrance to triumph, taking the chequered flag by 5 seconds from former teammate Carlos Sainz, which confirmed that the constructors’ crown had gone to the papaya squad.

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Charles Leclerc put in a combating efficiency for the Scuderia to climb again as much as third, having began again in P19 on the grid. Behind him, a late duel performed out between Mercedes teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, with the seven-time world champion snatching fourth within the ultimate moments to carry his chapter with the squad to an emotional shut.

Verstappen was sixth, the Pink Bull man having bounced again from his earlier penalty, with Pierre Gasly following in seventh as Alpine sealed P6 within the constructors’ championship, whereas Nico Hulkenberg was eighth for Haas forward of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in ninth. Piastri’s restoration drive resulted in tenth place, a disappointing end result for the Australian regardless of his staff’s success.

At the start, congratulations to McLaren on successful the constructors’ title, and effectively finished to Ferrari for pushing all of them the best way to the very finish, which made for an exhilarating finale that was filled with suspense to entertain the followers.

It was one of the best ways potential to finish a busy season, the longest ever in System 1 historical past. We consider we met the expectations of the groups and the opposite main gamers on this sport, the FIA and System 1, who’re our most necessary “prospects”. We did it by offering a dependable, high-performance product, delivering the specified impact of unpredictable racing. It’s no coincidence that this season has been. Properly balanced between races the place a one-stop technique labored finest and people the place a two-stop was simpler, thus assembly the goals we had set.

As for right this moment’s race, we noticed much less graining than throughout Friday’s free follow, and even then, it had little influence on efficiency. Degradation was additionally minimal, a lot in order that the one-stop was the best technique, even with many various divisions of stint lengths. Verstappen, for instance, stopped at precisely half-distance, whereas others like Gasly and Hulkenberg stopped very early after which managed to complete within the factors. We nonetheless have yet another activity to finish this 12 months. This coming Tuesday, we shall be again on monitor at Yas Marina for a vital collective check. All of the groups will be capable of consider 5 of the six compounds homologated for 2025, besides the C1, which is unsuited to this monitor. Moreover, we’ll provide 2024 tyres for the same old rookie end-of-season check.

The day on the monitor:

On the beginning grid, 19 of the 20 drivers have been on the Medium, with solely Hamilton choosing the Exhausting. The one-stop technique proved to be quickest: of the highest ten finishers, solely Fernando Alonso (eighth for Aston Martin) made a two-stop work. Piastri additionally pitted twice however that was on account of a collision with Verstappen on the first nook on the opening lap.

The longest stint general was delivered by two specialists on this subject, specifically Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg, who did 45 laps on a set of Hards. As for the Medium, the prize goes to Max Verstappen, who cut up his race precisely in two, doing 29 laps on the C4 adopted by the identical quantity on the C3.

The C5’s look within the race got here courtesy of Magnussen, who clearly solely fitted it in an effort to set the quickest race lap, which he did each on his first set, used for a complete of 25 laps after which on the second, fitted only for the final two laps.

2024 System 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Race Outcomes

2024 Constructor Standings

Listed here are the team-by-team highlights: