Lando Norris's performance highlights McLaren's resurgence in Formula 1, showcasing their competitive edge against Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc's misfortune underscores the high stakes and pressures of qualifying in Formula 1, particularly in a title-deciding race.
McLaren is likely to secure the constructors' championship if they maintain their qualifying performance during the race.
Lando Norris could solidify his position as runner-up in the drivers' standings if he finishes ahead of Charles Leclerc.
McLaren's Dominance at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying
Lando Norris of McLaren has secured pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, by clocking a time of 1:22.595 during Saturday's qualifying session. This marks Norris's eighth pole of the season and ninth of his career, as he aims to solidify his position in the championship standings. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, will start alongside him in second place, while Carlos Sainz from Ferrari takes third.
The qualifying session was particularly significant for McLaren, as they lead the constructors' championship with a 21-point advantage over Ferrari. Charles Leclerc, who is also in contention for the drivers' championship, faced a setback when his qualifying time was disqualified due to exceeding track limits, forcing him to start from the back of the grid after receiving a 10-place penalty for a prior battery change.
Key Highlights from the Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying
The second row of the grid will feature Nico Hülkenberg from Haas in fourth and Max Verstappen from Red Bull in fifth. Pierre Gasly from Alpine secured sixth place, while George Russell from Mercedes and Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin followed closely behind. Notably, Lewis Hamilton, in his last race with Mercedes, struggled and will start in 16th position after an unfortunate incident involving a plastic post that hindered his final qualifying lap.
As the teams prepare for the race, McLaren's strong performance in qualifying places them in a favorable position to clinch the constructors' title, while Norris continues to vie for the runner-up spot in the drivers' championship against Leclerc.
