Lando Norris ended the 2024 Formula 1 season in spectacular fashion by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, delivering a dominant performance that not only secured his victory but also helped McLaren clinch their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998. "It feels incredible, not for myself but for the whole team," Norris said. "The team has done an amazing job this year to come from where we were at the beginning."
The race began with Norris, starting from pole position, navigating through chaos behind him. Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen clashed in a battle for second place, resulting in a penalty for Verstappen and a drop in position for Piastri. Piastri faced further setbacks with a penalty for colliding with Franco Colapinto's Williams.
Despite various battles across the field, including a strong showing from McLaren's rivals Ferrari, Norris maintained his composure to win, crossing the finish line five seconds ahead of former teammate Carlos Sainz. This victory confirmed McLaren's long-awaited Constructors’ Championship. "I’m so proud of everyone – it’s been a lovely journey, and to end the season like this is perfect," Norris added.
Charles Leclerc delivered a remarkable performance for Ferrari, climbing from 19th on the grid to finish third. Behind him, a late duel between Mercedes teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton saw Hamilton secure fourth place in his final race with the team.
Verstappen finished sixth, recovering from his earlier penalty, followed by Pierre Gasly in seventh, helping Alpine secure sixth in the Constructors’ Championship. Nico Hulkenberg took eighth for Haas, with Fernando Alonso ninth for Aston Martin. Piastri completed the top ten, a disappointing result despite McLaren's success.
Reflecting on the race, Verstappen said; “My start was good and I went up the inside and then realized it was going to be tight at the apex with Oscar. I tried to stay on the kerb but unfortunately we clipped the tires and spun which wasn’t great. I have already apologized to Oscar, he is one of the last guys you want to come together with and it wasn’t great. After that, we had a tough race and were struggling with tires as they were overheating. We were just stuck in that position unfortunately so didn’t make it up with the pace. It has been a long season and there wasn’t a lot for us to fight for today. I’m looking forward to the break, I’m going to switch off, relax and spend some much needed time with friends and family. We have things to work on for next year and already have good ideas but we will see when we get into the car next year. We have had an up and down season and McLaren have been very strong from Miami onwards. I want to thank the Team for the season, it has been a long one but we have stuck together and ultimately to come away with a Drivers’ Championship has been fantastic.”
Alex Albon narrowly missed points for Williams in 11th, as did Yuki Tsunoda for Red Bull in 12th. Zhou Guanyu finished 13th in his last race for Kick Sauber, ahead of Lance Stroll in 14th. Jack Doohan debuted for Alpine, finishing 15th.
Kevin Magnussen was the final classified runner for Haas in 16th, while Liam Lawson's season ended dramatically with a mechanical failure. Valtteri Bottas and Franco Colapinto retired early, and Sergio Perez recorded a DNF after a first-lap spin.
The race followed an eventful qualifying session where Norris claimed his eighth pole of the year, with Piastri joining him on the front row. Several drivers faced grid penalties, altering the starting order.
As the race unfolded, Norris led from the start, while Piastri and Verstappen's collision brought out a Virtual Safety Car. Penalties were issued for various incidents, including Piastri's collision with Colapinto and Bottas's contact with Perez.
Norris maintained his lead throughout, with strategic pit stops and tire management playing crucial roles. Hamilton's late charge saw him climb to fourth, while Verstappen and others battled for positions.
In the end, Norris's victory not only marked a personal triumph but also a historic achievement for McLaren. "For us to win a constructors’ after 26 years is pretty special," Norris concluded. "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."
As the 2024 F1 season concludes, teams will return to the Yas Marina Circuit for post-season testing on December 10. The 2025 pre-season testing is scheduled for February 26-28 in Bahrain, with the new season kicking off in Australia on March 14-16.
