The article discusses the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the 2025 F1 season, where three drivers—Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri—are competing for the championship, with Norris currently leading but Verstappen and Piastri still in contention. It covers the season's dramatic developments, key moments, and the potential outcomes based on various race scenarios, highlighting Verstappen's recent dominance, Norris's current lead, and Piastri's underdog challenge.
Lewis Hamilton reflected on an emotional final race with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he drove from 16th to 4th place. This marked the end of his 12-year tenure with the team, during which he won six World Championships. Hamilton expressed nostalgia upon hearing his engineer's iconic 'Hammer Time' call for the last time. He will join Ferrari in 2025, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli will replace him at Mercedes.
Lando Norris won the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, securing McLaren's first constructors' championship since 1998. Carlos Sainz finished second for Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc climbed from the back to third. Max Verstappen's collision with Oscar Piastri affected the race dynamics, with Verstappen finishing sixth after a penalty. Lewis Hamilton, in his final race for Mercedes, took fourth, overtaking teammate George Russell. The race saw several incidents, including penalties for Verstappen and Piastri, and retirements for Sergio Perez and others.
Lando Norris won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, securing McLaren's first Formula 1 constructors' championship in 26 years. Norris led the race from start to finish, overcoming challenges from Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who finished second and third. Lewis Hamilton, in his final race for Mercedes, finished fourth after a strategic drive. McLaren's victory marks a significant turnaround for the team, attributed to leadership changes and restructuring efforts. Norris also finished second in the drivers' championship, behind Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton has been granted permission by the FIA to join the podium celebrations at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking his final race with Mercedes before moving to Ferrari next season. Despite starting 16th on the grid due to a qualifying mishap, Hamilton remains hopeful of a strong finish. The FIA's decision allows him to participate in the post-race celebrations regardless of his finishing position, acknowledging his significant contributions to the sport.
The starting grid for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been reshuffled due to four grid penalties, impacting the constructors' championship battle. Nico Hulkenberg, initially qualifying fourth, was demoted to seventh for overtaking in the pit exit tunnel. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc received a 10-place penalty, complicating Ferrari's challenge to McLaren's 21-point lead. Williams drivers also faced penalties, affecting their starting positions. McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured the front row, positioning McLaren well for a potential constructors' title win.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff apologized to Lewis Hamilton for a strategic error that led to Hamilton's early exit in Q1 during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying. The mistake involved sending Hamilton out too late, exposing him to traffic and a bollard incident, which resulted in him starting P16. Wolff described the error as "inexcusable" and lamented the lost opportunity for a podium finish, given Hamilton's strong practice pace.
Lewis Hamilton expressed disappointment after qualifying 18th for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his final race with Mercedes, due to hitting a bollard dislodged by another car. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff apologized for the team's "inexcusable" mistake of not sending Hamilton out earlier in Q1, which contributed to his early exit. Despite the setback, Hamilton remains optimistic about the race, while teammate George Russell qualified seventh and noted the team's experimental setups may have affected their performance.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed anger over the "inexcusable" decisions that led to Lewis Hamilton's early elimination in Q1 during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying. Hamilton, who will join Ferrari next year, was knocked out in P18 but will start P16 due to penalties for other drivers. Wolff criticized the team's strategy, emphasizing the importance of playing it safe, especially during Hamilton's farewell race weekend.
Lando Norris secured pole position for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leading a McLaren front row lockout with teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris's lap time of 1m 22.595s placed him ahead of Piastri by 0.209s. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari qualified third, while Nico Hulkenberg achieved a surprising fourth for Haas. Max Verstappen, who initially held provisional pole, ended up in fifth. Notably, Lewis Hamilton exited early in Q1, finishing 18th in his final qualifying session for Mercedes.
McLaren strengthened their position in the race for the Constructors' Championship after a strong performance in Friday's practice sessions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With a 21-point lead over Ferrari and only 44 points left in the season, McLaren are seen as favorites to clinch their first title in over two decades. Mercedes' George Russell acknowledged McLaren's dominance, describing them as being in "a league of their own."
ESPN has shifted the live telecast of the 2024 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from ESPN2 to ESPN, with additional streaming available on ESPN+. The coverage will start with a pre-race show at 6:30am ET, followed by the race at 7:55am.
McLaren dominated the second practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing 1-2, leading rivals to describe them as being in a "league of their own." George Russell noted Mercedes was four-tenths behind McLaren, while Ferrari's Carlos Sainz acknowledged a two to three-tenths gap. Max Verstappen expressed challenges with Red Bull's balance but hoped for improvement. McLaren's strong performance is seen as a significant advantage in the constructors' championship, especially with Charles Leclerc's grid penalty.
Lando Norris expressed caution over McLaren's impressive practice performance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, suggesting their pace "looks better than it is" and predicting a "tough fight" in qualifying. Despite leading a one-two finish with teammate Oscar Piastri in the second practice session, Norris believes rivals may close the gap as the weekend progresses. Both drivers are focused on optimizing car balance and tire management to maintain their advantage, as McLaren aims to secure their first constructors' championship since 1998, holding a 21-point lead over Ferrari.
Lando Norris led a McLaren one-two finish in the second practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with teammate Oscar Piastri close behind. Norris's performance on soft tires was impressive, setting a pace that left Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc trailing. Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton also performed well, while Max Verstappen struggled with drivability issues in his Red Bull. The session saw various challenges for drivers, including traffic and mechanical concerns.
