Lando Norris Clinches McLaren’s First Constructors’ Title Since 1998 with a Flawless Abu Dhabi Win
In a race packed with drama and high stakes, Lando Norris delivered a masterclass at the 2024 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to secure McLaren’s first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years. Starting from pole, the British driver was cool and composed under pressure, leading from start to finish and clinching a decisive victory over Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who rounded out the podium.
The result marked the culmination of a breakthrough season for McLaren, which saw the team claim six wins, an incredible turnaround for a team that had only achieved one race victory in the previous 12 years.
A Rocky Start for McLaren
The jubilation at the finish masked the anxiety McLaren endured from the opening lap. Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, collided with Max Verstappen at Turn 1 in a chaotic incident that sent both drivers spinning. Verstappen, starting third, understeered into the side of Piastri’s McLaren, forcing both to the back of the field. The incident earned Verstappen a 10-second penalty and left McLaren’s title hopes up in the air.
Adding to the tension, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc surged from 14th on the grid to third by the end of the first lap, aided by chaos further back. Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas clashed at Turn 6, forcing Pérez to retire and triggering a Virtual Safety Car. With Leclerc on a charge and Piastri stuck at the back, McLaren’s grip on the championship began to feel in danger.
The Mid-Race Battle: Norris vs. Sainz
Up front, Norris maintained his lead over Sainz, who had inherited second place after the Verstappen-Piastri incident. The two engaged in a strategic battle throughout the race, with Ferrari using undercuts and pace management to stay within striking distance.
Sainz pitted on Lap 25 to switch from mediums to hards, cutting Norris’ lead to just two seconds. However, the McLaren driver responded brilliantly, pitting a lap later and quickly rebuilding his gap to four seconds. With strong racecraft and composure, Norris weathered every attempt by Ferrari to close the gap.
By Lap 41, Norris had stretched his lead to 4.6 seconds, effectively sealing McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship. Even as traffic and lapped cars threatened to shake things up in the closing stages, Norris remained unnerved, delivering one of the most important victories of his career.
Hamilton’s Final Overture at Mercedes
While the spotlight was firmly on Norris, there was plenty of action behind him. Lewis Hamilton, racing in his final outing for Mercedes, produced a stellar performance to claim fourth place after starting 10th. The seven-time world champion overtook his teammate George Russell on the final lap with a daring move at Turn 9, capping off his Mercedes career in style.
Russell, who had initially challenged Norris for the championship earlier in the season, finished fifth, marking the end of an emotional campaign for Mercedes.
The Fallout from Turn 1: Verstappen and Piastri’s Struggles
For Verstappen, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a race to forget. The Dutchman’s clash with Piastri not only earned him a penalty but also dropped him to the midfield, where he struggled to make up lost ground. He eventually finished sixth, 12 seconds behind the Mercedes drivers.
Piastri, meanwhile, clawed his way back into the points, finishing 10th despite serving his own 10-second penalty for a collision with Franco Colapinto. While it wasn’t the ideal way to end the season, Piastri’s efforts helped McLaren maintain their edge in the championship battle.
Ferrari Fought to the End
Ferrari didn’t make things easy for McLaren. Both Sainz and Leclerc showed strong pace throughout the race, with Leclerc’s recovery drive from 14th to third standing out as one of the performances of the weekend. However, Ferrari’s efforts ultimately fell short, as Norris’ flawless execution left no room for error.
Midfield Drama and Farewells
Behind the top teams, there were plenty of subplots. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly claimed seventh, while Nico Hülkenberg of Haas secured eighth, solidifying Alpine’s position as the sixth-best team in the Constructors’ Championship. Fernando Alonso claimed ninth for Aston Martin. Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson both retired due to mechanical issues joining Perez in the DNF group.
The race also marked the end of Valtteri Bottas’ F1 career, with the Finnish driver retiring after a collision with Kevin Magnussen halfway through the race. Magnussen, who also made his final F1 appearance, finished outside the points after three pit stops.
View the full race results here.
Quotes of the Day
An ecstatic Norris at the end of the race expressed his joy to the rest of the team on team radio and is already looking forward to next season:
“Woooohoooohooo! Congrats everyone,” — “Incredible. Well done everyone, so proud of you all. Thank you so much, it’s been a special year.”
“Next year’s going to be my year too.”
Norris also spoke on winning the Constructors’ Championship for McLaren:
“It feels incredible, not for myself but for the whole team, they’ve done an amazing job this year to come from where we were at the beginning. I am so proud of everyone, it’s been a lovely journey and to end the season like this is perfect.”
“Congrats and a big thank you to everyone in McLaren, everyone in papaya, everyone who has supported us this year, it’s been a tough one and for us to win a constructors’ after 26 years is pretty special.”
After the race, Sainz kept his Ferrari farewell short and sweet over the radio:
“Forza Ferrari, It’s been a pleasure.”
Hamilton had his own emotional goodbye to his long time Mercedes team and shared one last moment with the car he made a legendary career with:
“When I stopped the car, I wanted to embrace the moment because it’s the last time I’m ever going to step into a Mercedes and represent them. It’s been the greatest honor of my life.”
A Historic Victory
The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will go down in history as a defining moment for McLaren. With Norris’ fourth win of the season and McLaren’s first Constructors’ title since 1998, the team has solidified its return to the top of Formula 1.
For Norris, the victory marks the crowning achievement of a breakthrough season.
McLaren is back, and the paddock has been put on notice.
