© Getty ImagesThe Dramatic Abu Dhabi Season FinaleMax Verstappen wrapped up his championship season with a hard-fought sixth in an eventful Abu Dhabi GP, where Lando Norris's victory clinched the Constructors' title for McLaren.
TherewashugedisappointmentforSergioPérez,however,aftertheMinisterwaspuntedoutoftheraceontheopeninglapbySauber'sValtteriBottas.
Into The Cockpit© Getty Images
In a dramatic start, Norris and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri got away well, but from fourth on the grid, Max reacted even better. He passed third-place man Carlos Sainz and as the front pair went into Turn 1, he dived down the inside to attack Piastri. The move was brave but unfortunately there was contact.
A Tangle At Turn 1© Getty Images
Max spun through 360 degrees but miraculously, the Dutchman was able to slot straight back into the pack in P11. Piastri, though, went off track and dropped to the back of the field. Max’s first corner ambition would result in a 10-second time penalty from the Stewards for causing the collision
The incidents weren’t over, however, and almost immediately after the Turn 1 moment, Bottas clattered into the side of Checo, who was also spun around. The Minister rejoined behind Piastri, but just as he began to plot a way back into the race, he was forced to pull over the side of the track and retire from the race, the damage just too great to continue.
The first-lap chaos meant the Virtual Safety Car was deployed, and under the caution Norris led ahead of Sainz, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Mercedes’ George Russell and Haas’ Nico Hülkenberg. Behind them, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had profited most from the incidents, climbing from 19th to eighth place.
Eyes Locked On The Track© Getty Images
When the VSC was withdrawn, the Monegasque driver made his way past Magnussen and Fernando Alonso to claim sixth, and Max followed suit, storming through to eighth place by lap 12. There were more woes for Piastri, however, as the McLaren driver clipped the rear of Franco Colapinto’s Williams at the restart and like Max, the Australian was handed a 10-second time penalty.
As the first stint elapsed, Leclerc and Max continued to make moves and by lap 15 the Ferrari driver had moved up to fifth, with Max just four seconds behind in sixth place.
Designed by Hermann Tilke© Getty Images
As the front runners pit windows opened and they peeled into the pitlane, Max found himself up into P3 and despite complaining that his tyres were fading, he stayed out on his ageing Medium tyres, hoping for a Safety Car. That window soon closed, however, and the champion pitted on lap 30. As well as a set of Hard tyres, Max also served his 10-second penalty, and when he emerged from the pit exit tunnel he was back in 11th place.
Comin' Through© Getty Images
He quickly cleared the Williams of Alex Albon and when Piastri pitted on lap 33 to serve his penalty and fit fresh tyres, Max climbed to ninth place, behind Fernando Alonso and two laps later, Max made his way past the Spanish driver to grab eighth behind Hamilton who had just pitted for a set of Medium tyres for a rapid final stint.
At the front, with 20 laps remaining, Norris was comfortable in the lead, 3.5s ahead of Sainz, with Leclerc 20 seconds further back in third. Russell, meanwhile, held fourth place ahead of Hülkenberg.
What A Sight© Getty Images
Aided by quicker tyres, Hamilton was soon on the move and he was quickly past Hülkenberg and Gasly. Max also closed in on the Haas of Hülkenberg and with 15 laps left he powered past the German. He then reeled in Gasly and on lap 46 he swooped past the Frenchman in Turn 9 to rise to sixth place behind Hamilton.
There the champion’s progress stalled. With Hamilton on fresher Medium tyres there was no chance of closing in on the Briton and as Norris took his fourth win of the season to earn McLaren its first Constructors’ crown since 1998. Sainz and Leclerc followed while Hamilton ended his Mercedes career by passing team-mate Russell to take fourth place. Behind Max, Gasly’s seventh place ahead of Hülkenberg meant that Alpine beat Haas to sixth place in Constructors’ standings. Alonso crossed the line in P9 and the final points went to Piastri.
Through The Lens: Abu Dhabi 2024
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