Lando Norris capped off a stellar season by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, delivering to McLaren its first Constructors’ Championship since 1998.
Teammate Oscar Piastri endured a chaotic race, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz claimed second, ensuring an exciting finale to the Formula 1 season.
Charles Leclerc completed the final podium of 2024 after an outstanding effort that carried the Monegasque from 19th at the start to thrid at the checkered flag.
The drama began the moment the lights went out. Norris made a textbook getaway to lead into Turn 1, but behind him, the opening lap chaos unfolded. Max Verstappen, starting fourth, collided with Piastri on the exit of Turn 1, sending the Dutchman tumbling down the order to 11th.
The stewards promptly handed Verstappen a 10-second penalty, leaving him frustrated as his final race of the year turned into damage limitation.
Further back, Sergio Perez’s tumultuous Red Bull tenure ended in disaster. The Mexican driver clashed with Valtteri Bottas at Turn 6 after Kevin Magnussen’s aggressive move up the inside triggered contact. Perez was spun around and ultimately retired, bringing out a Virtual Safety Car on Lap 2. Bottas and Magnussen escaped without penalties, but Perez’s exit cast a shadow over what could be his last Red Bull race.
The VSC bunched up the pack, setting the stage for more chaos. As racing resumed on Lap 3, Piastri, relegated to the back of the grid, found himself stuck behind Williams rookie Franco Colapinto. Attempting to overtake, the Australian collided with the Argentine driver, puncturing Colapinto’s tyre. Piastri received the same 10-second penalty as Verstappen and was forced to pit for repairs, dropping him further out of contention.
While the McLaren camp dealt with Piastri’s troubles, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was putting on a masterclass in recovery driving. After starting 18th due to a grid penalty, Leclerc carved through the field with surgical precision. By Lap 10, he was in sixth, using DRS and impeccable racecraft to pass Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg.
Leclerc wasn’t the only driver on the move. Lewis Hamilton, starting a dismal 16th in his final race for Mercedes, slowly began making progress, engaging in a thrilling battle with Red Bull’s Liam Lawson. Despite initially losing out to the Kiwi, Hamilton persevered and worked his way into the top 10 as the race unfolded.
Meanwhile, up front, Sainz tried to chip away at Norris’s lead. Ferrari executed an undercut strategy, pitting Sainz on Lap 26 to gain track position. McLaren immediately responded, bringing Norris in on the next lap for a rapid two-second stop. Norris rejoined with a slender gap of less than two seconds, but his pace ensured he stayed clear of the Ferrari’s DRS zone.
Behind them, Mercedes’ George Russell and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly battled fiercely. Gasly defended brilliantly until Russell used DRS to snatch the position after his pit stop on Lap 14. Further back, Colapinto’s difficult Williams swan song ended prematurely as mechanical issues forced his retirement, while Bottas’ race unraveled after a collision with Magnussen caused a puncture and early exit.
As the race progressed, Hamilton continued his charge. After a late pit stop on Lap 34, he emerged in seventh and wasted no time slicing through the pack. By Lap 44, he had dispatched Gasly and Hulkenberg to secure fifth. On the final lap, Hamilton executed a bold move on Russell at Turn 9 to finish fourth, capping off an impressive recovery drive in his Mercedes farewell.
While Hamilton impressed, Norris was untouchable at the front. With the gap to Sainz growing to over three seconds, the Briton was in full control. Sainz secured second, and Leclerc rounded out the podium in third after his remarkable comeback drive.
Piastri’s recovery efforts were less fruitful. Despite battling valiantly to reach the fringes of the points, he struggled to overcome AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, eventually finishing outside the top 10. Verstappen also had a quiet race by his standards, recovering to seventh but unable to challenge further due to his early penalty.
The victory was particularly sweet for Norris, marking his first win since Silverstone earlier this year. But more importantly, it cemented McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship triumph, breaking a 25-year drought for the Woking-based team. Norris’s flawless drive and Piastri’s efforts earlier in the season ensured the team held off Ferrari’s late-season charge.
“This one’s for everyone back at the factory,” said Norris, beaming as he crossed the finish line. “We’ve worked so hard for this moment, and to deliver it here, in the season finale, is incredible.”
For Ferrari, Sainz’s second place and Leclerc’s heroics highlighted the team’s potential, but they ultimately fell short in their bid to snatch the Constructors’ crown. “We gave it everything today,” said Sainz. “Credit to McLaren—they’ve been consistent all year. We’ll come back stronger.”
As the sun set on the Yas Marina Circuit, it also marked the end of an era for several drivers. Hamilton’s Mercedes career came to a bittersweet conclusion, while Perez’s future at Red Bull remains uncertain. Colapinto bid farewell to Williams, and Bottas wrapped up his Sauber stint in disappointing fashion.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix delivered a fitting finale to a rollercoaster season, showcasing thrilling battles, strategic masterstrokes, and a triumphant return to glory for McLaren. With the 2023 campaign in the books, the stage is set for even more drama next year. For now, though, Norris and McLaren will savor a victory that is sure to resonate for years to come.
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