Norris wins Abu Dhabi F1 GP as McLaren clinch constructors' title

Red Bull's Max Verstappen had already clinched the drivers' world title

Rituraj Borkakoty

Published: Sun 8 Dec 2024, 6:36 PM

Last updated: Sun 8 Dec 2024, 8:51 PM

Undeterred by the failure to put up a consistent challenge against Max Verstappen for the drivers’ world title, Lando Norris fought hard for McLaren on Sunday evening, dominating the season-ending Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix race from start to finish, giving the British team their first constructors’ title since 1998.

There were euphoric scenes in the McLaren pit at the Yas Marina Circuit after the 25-year-old driver’s fourth win of the season clinched them the team title by 14 points.

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Remarkably, Norris was not even born when McLaren last won the world title in 1998.

"You all deserve this. Thank you so much. It's been a special year," said Norris after completing the race.

McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates with team members. — Reuters

"Next year is going to be my year too," he added, declaring his ambition to win his first world championship as a driver in 2025.

Red Bull’s Verstappen, who had clinched the drivers’ world title with a fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last month, finished sixth in Abu Dhabi where the Dutchman had won the previous four races on the trot.

While Norris took the race honours on Sunday, Verstappen celebrated with the big trophy, ending the season with his fourth drivers' world title.

Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton ended his Mercedes stint with a fourth-place finish.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton acknowledges fans after the race. — AFP

The British superstar will drive for the iconic Ferrari team next season.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished second and third respectively on Sunday.

But it was an uphill task for the Italian team to win the title after Leclerc’s 10-place grid penalty in Friday’s practice session.

Norris pounced on it like a champion, delivering a racing masterclass at the majestic Yas Marina Circuit.

The McLaren star’s victory also gave him the second position in the drivers’ standings — he finished the season with 374 points, 63 points behind champion Verstappen (437 points), pushing Leclerc (356 points) to third place.

For Hamilton, the fourth-place finish on Sunday was an incredible result after the Briton’s car caught a track bollard in Saturday’s qualifying session.

Despite the lowly 18th qualifying position, the seven-time world champion produced a memorable finish, coming tantalisingly close to a podium finish in Abu Dhabi, a race he has won five times in the past.

Hamilton even managed to overtake teammate George Russell on the final lap, drawing wild cheers from the crowd.

"Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

It was an emotional moment for Hamilton as he finished his last race for Mercedes, a team with which he has won six world titles as a driver.

But it wasn’t the perfect race on Sunday as Norris’ teammate Oscar Pistari collided with Verstappen under the floodlights at Yas Marina.

The action on the track, though, was dramatic enough to bring the crowd to their feet.

Results:

1. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren), 1hr 26min 33.291sec, 2.Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) at 5.832s, 3.Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 31.928, 4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 36.483, 5. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 37.538, 6. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 49.847, 7. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine) 1:12.560, 8. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas) 1:15.554, 9. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin) 1:22.373, 10. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren) 1:23.821, 11. Alex Albon (THA/Williams) 1 lap, 12.Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB) 1 lap, 13. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber) 1 lap, 14. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) 1 lap, 15. Jack Doohan (AUS/Alpine) 1 lap, 16. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) 1 lap, 17. Liam Lawson (NZL/RB) 3 laps

Fastest lap: Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) 1:25.637

DNF:

Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull), Franco Colapinto (ARG/Williams), Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber), Liam Lawson (NZL/RB)

World championship standings

Drivers

1. Max Verstappen (NED) 437 pts - world champion, 2. Lando Norris (GBR) 374, 3. Charles Leclerc (MON) 356, 4. Oscar Piastri (AUS) 292, 5. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 290, 6. George Russell (GBR) 245, 7. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 223, 8. Sergio Perez (MEX) 152, 9. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 70, 10. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 42, 11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 41, 12. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) 30, 13. Lance Stroll (CAN) 24, 14. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 23, 15. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 16, 16. Alexander Albon (THA) 12, 17. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 12, 18. Oliver Bearman (GBR) 7, 19. Franco Colapinto (ARG) 5, 20. Zhou Guanyu (CHN) 4, 21. Liam Lawson (NZL) 4, 22. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 0, 23. Logan Sargeant (USA) 0, 24. Jack Doohan (AUS) 0

Constructors

1. McLaren 666 pts - world champions, 2. Ferrari 652, 3. Red Bull 589, 4. Mercedes 468, 5. Aston Martin 94, 6. Alpine 65, 7. Haas 58, 8. RB 46, 9. Williams 17, 10. Sauber 4

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