Lando Norris delivered a stellar performance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, helping McLaren clinch their first Constructors’ Championship title since 1998.
The British driver led Carlos Sainz to halt Ferrari’s surge in style. Max Verstappen, who has been the talk of motorsport leading up to the season finale due to his spat with George Russell, found himself in trouble right from the start.
An audacious move on the first lap saw him collide with Oscar Piastri, causing both drivers to spin out. The incident resulted in a 10-second time penalty for Verstappen, effectively dashing his hopes of a podium finish.
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Meanwhile, Piastri’s race was ruined, leaving Norris, the race leader and polesitter, to shoulder McLaren’s title aspirations. Verstappen’s team-mate also had a disastrous start, losing his clutch after being hit by Valtteri Bottas, which led to his retirement from what could be his last F1 race.
Other departing F1 stars didn’t have the farewell they would have hoped for. Bottas later collided with Kevin Magnussen, damaging his right front wheel rim, while Franco Colapinto’s race, already marred by an early puncture, was cut short due to a power unit issue, reports the Express.
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Charles Leclerc emerged as one of the main beneficiaries of the early turmoil. After a brief virtual safety car period, the Monegasque driver moved up from the back of the grid to eighth place, keeping Ferrari in the fight against McLaren.
Sadly for Fred Vasseur’s squad, Norris remained unyielding at the front. The McLaren driver set a blistering pace, leaving Sainz and Leclerc unable to keep up.
Meanwhile, further down the pack, Lewis Hamilton was subtly preparing for a late surge on fresh medium compound tyres after a lengthy initial stint on hard ones.
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Despite trailing his team-mate by 14 seconds after overtaking Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly, Hamilton managed to close the gap and overtake George Russell on the outside of Turn Nine on the final lap, marking an incredible comeback drive.
While all eyes will be on Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari in 2025, for his future teammate Leclerc, it was a moment of present heartbreak. The 27 year old was devastated after the race, his comeback effort rendered futile by Norris’ dominant victory.