2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying Results: Winners & Losers
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Full analysis of the winners and losers from the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying, with key highlights including McLaren's dominance and the struggles of drivers like Hamilton, Leclerc, and Hulkenberg.
Winners and Losers from the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying
The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session has set the stage for an exciting finale, with McLaren locking out the front row. As the season draws to a close, the qualifying results at Yas Marina bring both joy and disappointment to several teams and drivers. McLaren, in particular, made significant strides toward securing their first World Constructors' Championship in decades, while other drivers and teams faced setbacks. Here's a breakdown of the key winners and losers from this dramatic session.
Winner: McLaren
McLaren has been on an impressive upward trajectory throughout the 2024 season, and their front-row lockout in Abu Dhabi solidifies their position as one of the sport's most formidable teams. Lando Norris secured pole position, while his teammate Oscar Piastri qualified second, marking a pivotal moment for the team. McLaren has not won the World Constructors' Championship in decades, and the 2024 season has been one of their strongest in recent memory.
Despite facing challenges earlier in the season, including a series of minor setbacks, McLaren has demonstrated remarkable progress. Norris and Piastri’s efforts in securing top grid positions make it clear that the team is well-equipped to fight for the championship. This front-row lockout positions McLaren perfectly for a strong finish, making them the top winners of the session.
Loser: Lewis Hamilton
It was a difficult session for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who endured a frustrating end to his qualifying effort. “I messed that up big time,” Hamilton admitted over the radio after his final flying lap in Q1. A series of unfortunate events led to the seven-time world champion being eliminated in the first round of qualifying, marking his worst-ever Abu Dhabi grid position at 18th.
The incident occurred when Kevin Magnussen of Haas inadvertently caused a bollard to obstruct Hamilton’s car, effectively ruining his flying lap. Although Hamilton’s mistake was not entirely to blame, the poor luck in his final Mercedes qualifying session compounded the disappointment. This will surely be a bitter pill to swallow for the British driver as he bids farewell to the team after a long and successful partnership.
Winner: Valtteri Bottas
Amid Sauber’s challenging 2024 season, Valtteri Bottas managed to extract the most from his car and deliver a standout performance in Abu Dhabi. Bottas qualified ninth, a strong result considering the overall performance of the team this season. Despite the struggles that Sauber has faced, Bottas’ experience and skill were evident as he placed the car near the top ten in a highly competitive grid.
This final qualifying session could be a crucial moment for Bottas, who has yet to announce his future plans for 2025. Regardless of what lies ahead, Bottas can be proud of his efforts, as he ends his qualifying campaign on a high note in Abu Dhabi.
Loser: Charles Leclerc
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc faced a difficult qualifying session that added more pressure to his already challenging 2024 season. A battery failure in practice forced Ferrari to change a key component of Leclerc’s car, resulting in a 10-place grid penalty. As if that wasn’t enough, Leclerc had his fastest lap in Q2 deleted due to exceeding track limits, leaving him out of contention for a top spot.
Leclerc had been in contention for a strong qualifying result, but the deleted lap and the penalty placed him further back on the grid, ultimately qualifying P14, which will become P20 after the grid penalty. Ferrari's hopes of a strong finish in the Constructors' Championship took a hit, and Leclerc now faces a difficult climb in the race to make up for the lost positions.
Winner: Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez’s qualifying session in Abu Dhabi was a much-needed confidence boost after a challenging season. Although Perez’s Q1 lap was initially deleted for track limits, the decision was later reversed, allowing him to progress to Q2 and ultimately qualify tenth for the race. While it wasn’t the perfect qualifying session, this result gives Perez a solid starting point and a much-needed lift heading into the race.
For Perez, qualifying in the top ten after the rollercoaster of emotions in Q1 is a positive outcome. It won’t save his season entirely, but it certainly helps ease some of the pressure heading into the final race of the year.
Loser: Nico Hulkenberg
Nico Hulkenberg of Haas had a superb qualifying lap that saw him momentarily claim a spot on the second row of the grid. However, his impressive performance was overshadowed by a penalty for overtaking two cars in the pit road exit tunnel. The result was a three-place grid penalty, which saw Hulkenberg drop from fourth to seventh place, denying him what would have been his best grid position of the season.
Although Hulkenberg’s efforts in qualifying were commendable, the penalty proved costly. The veteran driver’s unfortunate misstep highlights the fine line between success and failure in Formula 1, where even minor infractions can have significant consequences.
Winner: Alpine
While Jack Doohan will start from the very back of the grid, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly qualified an impressive fifth. Alpine may not have had a flawless weekend, but the team made progress, and Gasly’s result signals the team’s potential to end the season on a high. Additionally, Alpine has the opportunity to assess the performance of rookie Jack Doohan, who has been brought in for a race debut following Esteban Ocon’s departure.
For Alpine, this session provided an opportunity to evaluate their future talent and to end the season with some positive results. It may not have been a perfect qualifying session for the team, but it was a step in the right direction.
Loser: Track Limits
Track limits were a major talking point in Abu Dhabi, as several drivers had their fast lap times deleted due to exceeding the boundaries of the track. Notably, both Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri saw their times revoked only to be reinstated after further investigation. This season has been plagued by controversy surrounding track limits, and the final qualifying session of the year was no different. The constant back-and-forth over track limits left drivers frustrated, adding to the tension of an already high-stakes qualifying session.
Conclusion
The 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying session was full of drama, excitement, and controversy. McLaren’s dominance has them poised to fight for their first Constructors' Championship in decades, while other drivers like Hamilton, Leclerc, and Hulkenberg faced disappointing setbacks. As the grid is set for Sunday’s race, it’s clear that the battle for both individual and team glory will be intense, with several key storylines to follow in the final race of the 2024 season.
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