McLaren’s Lando Norris brought down the curtain on the 2024 Formula 1 season in dominant fashion as he scored the victory in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
While Scuderia Ferrari saw Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc place second and third, the team’s effort wasn’t enough as McLaren secured the constructors’ championship, its first since 1998.
“It feels incredible, not for myself but for the whole team,” said Norris. “The team have done an amazing job this year to come from where we were at the beginning. I’m so proud of everyone – it’s been a lovely journey, and to end the season like this is perfect, so just a congrats and big thank you to everyone in McLaren, everyone in papaya, everyone who supported us this year because it’s been a tough one.
“For us to win a constructors’ after 26 years is pretty special.”
Norris gapped Sainz at the finish line by nearly six seconds.
It was a valiant effort from Leclerc, who started 19th on the grid due to a penalty stemming from Friday.
Race Notes
• From the pole, Norris led into turn one as his teammate Oscar Piastri made contact with reigning champion Max Verstappen. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver was penalized for the incident. He’d place sixth to cap off another title season.
Piastri would endure later trouble and a penalty for an incident with Franco Colapinto. The Australian would finish 10th after starting second.
• Behind the podium finishers, a fierce battle between Mercedes teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton was won by Hamilton as he scored a strong fourth-place result in his final event with the team.
• A seventh-place finish for Alpine’s Pierre Gasly allowed the team to secure sixth in the constructors’ standings ahead of Haas F-1. The American team had one car place in the top 10 with Nico Hulkenberg dropping one spot on the grid to eighth.
• Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was ninth. In his first F-1 start, Jack Doohan wheeled his Alpine machine to 15th. Kevin Magnussen was the final finisher on the day in 16th in his final stint with Haas.
• Sergio Perez’s rough season ended on a low note as he exited the event on lap one due to a spin.
