{"id":14198,"date":"2024-12-07T17:03:14","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T17:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/?p=14198"},"modified":"2024-12-07T17:03:14","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T17:03:14","slug":"abu-dhabi-gp-lando-norris-beats-oscar-piastri-to-pole-by-two-tenths-as-mclaren-put-in-pole-position-to-win-constructors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.f1vault.co.uk\/index\/abu-dhabi-gp-lando-norris-beats-oscar-piastri-to-pole-by-two-tenths-as-mclaren-put-in-pole-position-to-win-constructors\/","title":{"rendered":"ABU DHABI GP \u2013 Lando Norris beats Oscar Piastri to pole by two-tenths as McLaren put in pole position to win constructors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lando Norris has beaten his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by two-tenths taking pole for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Englishman pulled it out the bag as he found a massive improvement on his final attempt to put himself on pole. It also puts McLaren in the best position to win the constructors with Carlos Sainz third and Charles Leclerc set to start last because of an engine change.<\/p>\n

Throughout practice McLaren looked to have the edge over Ferrari when they managed to get the lap together on the final runs, they were able to secure a front-row lockout with Piastri finishing two hundredths ahead of Sainz. McLaren are seeking their first constructors in a quarter of a century and looked quick in practice slightly ahead of Ferrari.<\/p>\n

Leclerc found himself knocked out in Q2 after having his fastest time deleted for track limits after going fastest, plus his ten-place grid penalty for a new battery, dropping him from thirteenth to nineteenth. An unnecessary error as he looked comfortably safe from being knocked out.<\/p>\n

The Monacan has had a nightmare weekend with food poisoning on Thursday and then the failure halting his running in FP1 which led to the penalty. It should have been one of joy as he became the first driver to drive as teammates with his brother Arthur during FP1.<\/p>\n

McLaren will win the constructors if they outscore Ferrari by twenty-four points, they just need to win the race, at a circuit where overtaking can be more difficult. Qualifying appeared to sum up the second half of 2024, where race-to-race it has been difficult to predict as well as a few surprises.<\/p>\n

Norris who took pole, \u201cIt was a bit trickier today compared to last night. We took a while to find our feet in qualifying but we got there in the end. Great result for the team; happy with that. Last lap, yep, probably wish I could’ve had it again, but that’s OK. P2 is still a good spot. Obviously for the team, first and second is the dream, so let\u2019s keep that going for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Piastri, who will start on the front row alongside teammate Norris: “It was a bit trickier today compared to last night. We took a while to find our feet in qualifying but we got there in the end. Great result for the team; happy with that. Last lap, yep, probably wish I could’ve had it again, but that’s OK. P2 is still a good spot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sainz said, \u201cI\u00a0think we\u2019ve made some good progress through the week and I think McLaren have showed all weekend that they are a bit of a step ahead compared to everyone, and we were just there behind, two or three-tenths off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nico Hulkenberg had a brilliant qualifying putting his Haas fourth seven hundredths behind Sainz, his best qualifying since Sao Paulo in 2010 and the teams best of the season. He will be hoping that the pace allows him to score a podium and lose the record for most starts without a podium, the German was six hundredths ahead of Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n

The four-time champion looked to be on the pace to challenge the McLaren\u2019s and Sainz but suddenly lost his form on his final go ending up fifth and ahead of Pierre Gasly by a tenth and a half. Verstappen had topped Q1 by three hundredths but as the grip ramped up he struggled to match the McLaren\u2019s and Sainz.<\/p>\n

That loss of form on his first run in Q3, dented his challenge and confidence because of the loss of balance allowing Norris and Piastri to surge ahead.<\/p>\n

A surprising turnaround for the four-time champion given how far he was behind on Friday evening, however the opportunity to challenge for pole was thrown away thanks to a mistake at the final corner. It was at this point, that McLaren truly unleashed their pace as Norris and Piastri went to the top of the times.<\/p>\n

Like Hulkenberg, Gasly continued Alpine\u2019s strong finish to the season and starting behind the German could also be key in their own constructor’s fight for sixth. As key as the fight between Ferrari and McLaren because of the millions it is worth in terms of prize money in the championship.<\/p>\n

Mercedes had gone into qualifying looking to be in a mix but sceptical, the pace just wasn\u2019t their to fight for pole, George Russell going seventh six hundredths behind Gasly and half a second off pole. The Mercedes driver going just under a hundredth faster than Fernando Alonso, as he failed to make it three poles in a row.<\/p>\n

Valtteri Bottas was another driver in the lower end having a good weekend, in what could be his last weekend he was ninth for Sauber, six hundredths ahead of Sergio Perez. The Mexican facing an uncertain future given his disappointing season and growing frustration within Red Bull with his performances.<\/p>\n

But for Red Bull\u2019s sister team RB it was a strong session, Yuki Tsunoda going eleventh and missed out on Q3 by four hundredths as he went over half a tenth faster than teammate Liam Lawson. Lance Stroll was thirteenth going half a tenth ahead of Leclerc\u2019s time which was within track limits.<\/p>\n

The Monacan will start nineteenth ahead of Alex Albon who was the fastest of those knocked out in Q1, who also has a five-place penalty for a gearbox change. Leclerc said he still had hopes of a miracle in the constructors’ championship. Albon was sixteenth going six hundredths ahead of Guanyu Zhou.<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton\u2019s final race for Mercedes went from bad to worse, the seven-time champion had gone into qualifying looking to have the edge over Russell. But he messed up his first attempt and on his final attempt while he looked on course to get through to Q2, he came across a slow Magnussen through the marina section.<\/p>\n

Magnussen moved off the track inside the kerb at Turn 13 in an attempt to ensure he did not impede the Mercedes but hit a bollard on the kerb and knocked it onto the track. Hamilton collected it and it lodged in the front of his floor for the remaining four corners of the lap, and the seven-time champion missed progressing by just under a tenth<\/p>\n

He told BBC News, \u201cWe gave it everything, I gave it everything, the car was in a good place. Every practice session went well, I was ahead of my team-mate all weekend but when we got to qualifying I think as a team we didn’t perform in terms of the timing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was the last car on track and ran out of time ultimately, and then I got the bollard at the end which went under the car and I lost all downforce so it couldn’t have gone worse really.”<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto was nineteenth going a tenth ahead of Jack Doohan, who will start his first race from last on the grid.<\/p>\n

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