All posts tagged: Abu Dhabi GP

Norris on Piastri for potential title-winning favour at Abu Dhabi GP

Norris on Piastri for potential title-winning favour at Abu Dhabi GP

Published by Webster

McLaren’s leading driver Lando Norris is just one podium finish away from becoming a Formula 1 world champion as the 2025 season heads into its final race in Abu Dhabi. Norris will clinch the title on Sunday if he finishes on the podium, regardless of where his teammate Oscar Piastri or Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — his two closest rivals in the championship — finish. However, one scenario could see Verstappen defend his crown and win a fifth consecutive title: if he wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix while Piastri finishes third and Norris fourth. Conversely, if the McLaren drivers were to swap positions in that same situation, with Norris third and Piastri fourth, they could deny Verstappen the championship, and Norris would become world champion. Norris has 408 points and leads Verstappen (396) by 12 points and teammate Piastri (392) by 16 points. In Thursday’s press conference ahead of the decisive race weekend, Norris was asked about that hypothetical situation and the wider topic of team orders. “It hasn’t been discussed. Honestly, I would …

Lando Norris helps McLaren win constructors’ title for first time since 1998, Hamilton bids adieu to Mercedes – India TV

Lando Norris helps McLaren win constructors’ title for first time since 1998, Hamilton bids adieu to Mercedes – India TV

Published by Webster

Image Source : GETTY Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. McLaren were favourites to win the Formula 1 constructors title in 2024 and they did it finally at the Abu Dhabi GP but not without a drama in the finale of the season. After Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri started on P1 and P2 for McLaren and title rivals Ferrari drivers split on P3 (Carlos Sainz) and P19 (Charles Leclerc), the papaya squad was set to end their 26-year-long wait for a constructors’ title. But there was a twist in their script. Piastri and 2024 champion Max Verstappen had a collision on Turn 1 as both the drivers went for a spin. The incident and a 10-second penalty for another collision with Franco Colapinto on the next lap had sent Piastri way down the order. Ferrari were breathing under the neck as Leclerc had gained 11 places from 19 to 8th in the first lap and then came at P3 when he pitted.  Norris had a nervy time as he led the race with the two …

F1: Lando Norris leads McLaren to first Constructor’s title in 26 years, Carlos Sainz finishes second in final race for Ferrari | Motor-sport News

F1: Lando Norris leads McLaren to first Constructor’s title in 26 years, Carlos Sainz finishes second in final race for Ferrari | Motor-sport News

Published by Webster

An emotion-filled last race of the season came to an end as McLaren came out on top to win the 2024 Formula 1 World Constructors Championship, as Lando Norris’s dominating drive helped the team win the title after more than a quarter of a decade on Sunday at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Norris led every lap of the race with Carlos Sainz in close pursuit for the lead, but the Spaniard could only manage P2 in his last race for Ferrari before moving to Williams. He was followed by Charles Leclerc, who powered through the field to acquire the final position on the podium after starting 19th on the grid. There was chaos right from the start of the race, as Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri collided on turn one in the first lap itself. The Dutchman received a 10 second time penalty, which he served in the pit stop, and had to settle with P6. Piastri gave McLaren a small scare as he too received a 10 second time penalty for …

Abu Dhabi GP: Ahead of final Mercedes race, Lewis Hamilton gets apology from Toto Wolff | Motor-sport News

Abu Dhabi GP: Ahead of final Mercedes race, Lewis Hamilton gets apology from Toto Wolff | Motor-sport News

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff apologised to Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the team after the seven-time World Champion finished 18th in qualification for the Abu Dhabi GP, his final as a Mercedes driver before his move to Ferrari. It was a poor bit of luck that got Hamilton in the end. Looking good in free practice with a car that was finally looking fast, the Briton seemed poised to make it to Q2 with ease. But in his final run of Q1, the bollard of Kevin Magnussen’s Haas got stuck underneath Hamilton’s car. The incident resulted in a loss of downforce for the Mercedes and Hamilton, for whom this was supposed to be a final swansong with a team he achieved so much, was forced into the 18th spot ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “I just need to apologise to Lewis,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1. “Also to everyone in the team that worked so hard to make it a great end for him. He was the quicker guy with that kind …

F1: Action packed Qualifying sees Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lock front row with Carlos Sainz at P3 | Motor-sport News

F1: Action packed Qualifying sees Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lock front row with Carlos Sainz at P3 | Motor-sport News

Published by Webster

With the season finale one night away, the last Qualifying session saw familiar faces lock the front row at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Both the McLaren drivers locked out the front row and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz claimed P3. In a shocker though, the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg sits at P4. Lando Norris claimed his ninth pole position of his career, lapping the Yas Marina Circuit with the time of 1.23.682. His teammate Oscar Piastri followed in second, two tenths of a second slower. This gives McLaren a clear cut shot at clinching the World Constructors’ Championship for the first time since 1998. Although Carlos Sainz got to P3 in what would be his last race for Ferrari, it was a disastrous Saturday for Ferrari as their chances at the Constructors’ title slipped away further as Charles Leclerc’s lap time in Q2 was deleted after crossing the track limits on Turn 1 which sent him down to P14. After the penalty, his final grid position would be P19. Ferrari would be …

F1: Leclerc receives 10-place grid penalty, denting Ferrari’s chances of winning Constructors’ title | Motor-sport News

F1: Leclerc receives 10-place grid penalty, denting Ferrari’s chances of winning Constructors’ title | Motor-sport News

Published by Webster

Ferrari and McLaren have been in close battle with each other in the second half of the 2024 season to clinch the Formula One’s World Constructors’ Championship, with the battle coming down to Sunday’s last race at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. But just as the first free practice ended on Friday, Ferrari suffered a severe setback to their hopes of winning the Formula One Constructors’ title for the first time since 2008, as Charles Leclerc received a 10-place grid penalty. After Leclerc set the fastest lap in free practice, Ferrari revealed that they had changed the car’s battery, which automatically resulted in a grid penalty. FIA confirmed in a technical report that Leclerc was now using his third energy store for the season, one more than allowed. Ferrari are 21 points behind leaders McLaren, who won the Constructors Championship last in 1998. With 44 points still to be won on Sunday, and third-placed Red Bull out of the running, Ferrari face a herculean task to put both cars ahead of the McLarens …