Lando Norris has etched his name in the annals of F1 history by securing pole position for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leading a remarkable McLaren front-row lockout alongside teammate Oscar Piastri.
The qualifying session at the Yas Marina Circuit not only showcased Norris’s exceptional driving skills but also highlighted the team’s resurgence in Formula 1, as they aim for their first Constructors’ Championship title since 1998.
The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying was filled with intense competition and unexpected twists, setting the stage for an exciting season finale.
As the sun set over the Yas Marina Circuit, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The qualifying format consisted of three segments: Q1, Q2, and Q3, where drivers aimed to secure their best lap times to determine the starting grid as well as who will start the race from pole position.
The conditions were nearly perfect, with air temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius and track temperatures reaching 30 degrees, allowing drivers to push their cars to the limit.
In Q1, the drama unfolded early as Lewis Hamilton faced an unfortunate exit in what would be his final qualifying session with Mercedes. The seven-time world champion was eliminated after a loose bollard, dislodged by another car, became lodged under his car.
This incident disrupted his lap and ultimately left him in P18, marking a disappointing end to his illustrious career with Mercedes. Hamilton’s team radio revealed his frustration: “I messed that up big time guys,” he lamented, reflecting on a challenging day that ended with three Q1 eliminations in his last six races.
The focus quickly shifted back to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as they continued to demonstrate their prowess behind the wheel.
Norris navigated the circuit’s technical sections with precision to set an impressive early pace that would ultimately see him secure pole with a time of 1:22.595. Piastri, not far behind, clocked in at 1:22.804, just two-tenths off Norris, solidifying McLaren’s dominance at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz managed to secure third place with a time of 1:22.824, marking an impressive session for the team after starting off the weekend on the backfoot. Sainz’s performance was particularly noteworthy as it marked his best qualifying result at Yas Marina.
Nico Hulkenberg delivered a standout performance for Haas, qualifying fourth with a time of 1:22.886, a huge achievement as the German marks his final race with Haas before moving on to Sauber next season.
Max Verstappen, who had been expected to be among Lando Norris’s main rivals for pole position, found himself in fifth place after failing to improve on his initial lap time during Q3.
The Dutchman’s struggles were unexpected; he had set a strong provisional pole time early in Q3 but could not replicate that form on his subsequent laps. This marked one of his worst qualifying performances at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2018.
The rest of the top ten included Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in sixth place and Mercedes’ George Russell in seventh. Gasly’s performance over the weekend remains to be commendable as he consistently pushes his car to its limits.
Fernando Alonso managed to secure eighth place despite voicing frustration with his car’s performance leading up to qualifying. Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez rounded out the top ten.
However, The drama did not end there; Charles Leclerc’s hopes were dashed when he was eliminated in Q2 after having his fastest lap time deleted due to exceeding track limits at Turn 1.
The unfortunate turn of events meant that Leclerc would start from the back of the grid due to a ten-place grid penalty imposed earlier in the weekend for taking a new battery.
Ferrari’s championship hopes took a major hit as they needed every point available to challenge McLaren for the Constructors’ title at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
As fans and teams prepare for what promises to be an exhilarating race day at Yas Marina with Lando Norris starting from pole position alongside Oscar Piastri, all eyes will be on McLaren as they aim not only for victory but also to seal their long-awaited Constructors’ title.
