Lando Norris led team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren sealed an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix front-row lockout that puts them on the verge of Constructors’ Championship glory.
McLaren were already clear favourites for the teams title as they entered the season finale with a 21-point lead over Ferrari, but their position was significantly strengthened as Norris saved his best until last to edge Piastri.
Ferrari’s hopes had already been massively dented when Charles Leclerc’s Q2 exit – after a track limits breach – confined the Monegasque to starting from the back of the grid following a 10-position penalty enforced on Friday for taking a new battery.
Carlos Sainz did manage to take third for Ferrari, but the Italian team will need something of a miracle in Sunday’s race – live on Sky Sports at 1pm – to overturn their deficit.
World champion Max Verstappen had appeared to be McLaren’s main rival for pole but uncharacteristically lost form with his final flying lap to end up fifth.
The Dutchman was surprisingly beaten by Nico Hulkenberg, who produced Haas’ best qualifying performance of the season to take fourth, but Pierre Gasly claimed a similarly impressive sixth for Alpine to set up a thrilling finale in the battle for sixth in the constructors’ standings.
George Russell’s streak of two successive poles was ended as he claimed seventh, while team-mate Lewis Hamilton made a hugely unfortunate early exit in Q1 in his final Mercedes appearance before joining Ferrari after a bollard was pushed into the path of his car.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Sunday December 8
7.10am: F1 Academy Race Three
9.20am: F2 Feature Race
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP build-up
1pm: The ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream with NOW
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The post Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying: Lando Norris takes pole as front-row lockout puts McLaren on brink of constructors’ title appeared first on WorldNewsEra.