Abu Dhabi GP qualifying: Lando Norris on pole, Max Verstappen fifth
Norris secures pole in stunning Abu Dhabi qualifying as McLaren dominates
In a startling display of speed and skill, Lando Norris nabbed pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leading a triumphant McLaren 1-2 finish in the qualifying rounds on Saturday. A prime performance by Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri saw them secure the front row, escalating hopes for a constructors' title clinch by McLaren in a season finale charged with high stakes.
Initially, it appeared that Max Verstappen was poised to claim the pole with an impressive early run in Q3. However, Norris outperformed in the closing moments, clocking a stunning lap time of 1m 22.595s, which put him a significant 0.209 seconds ahead of Piastri, marking a stellar moment for the McLaren team.
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari secured the third spot, showcasing his competitive edge, while Nico Hulkenberg surprised many by claiming a remarkable fourth position for Haas in what was announced as his final event for the team. Verstappen, amid high expectations, found himself in fifth place, trailing behind the unexpected leaders.
The qualifying session saw intense competition, with Pierre Gasly of Alpine and Mercedes' George Russell finishing in sixth and seventh respectively. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso managed an eighth-place finish, narrowly outperforming Valtteri Bottas who received commendations for making it into Q3, representing the Kick Sauber team.
Rounding out the top ten was Red Bull's Sergio Perez, concluding a session filled with anticipation and thrilling twists. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc faced disappointment as a promising lap in Q2 was invalidated for exceeding track limits, relegating him to P14 and subsequently to the back of the grid due to a grid penalty assessed on Friday.
The session bid farewell to several contenders in Q2 including Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, and Lance Stroll, while Kevin Magnussen's concluding Haas performance positioned him at P15.
A significant upset came with Lewis Hamilton's unanticipated early exit during Q1, marking a subdued end to his qualifying endeavors with Mercedes. The seven-time world champion secured only the 18th spot after an encounter with a stray bollard on the track, introducing an unexpected challenge. Also exiting in Q1 were Alex Albon, Zhou Guanyu, alongside newcomers Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan, concluding their qualifying bouts early.
As the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix beckons, the starting grid is set with eyes on McLaren for a potentially historic victory. The stunning lockout at the front by Norris and Piastri has set the stage for a riveting race day, bringing the 2023 season to a close with high expectations and electric anticipation.
Formula 1 Race results /standings Formula 1 Race schedule F1 TV: Watch every race of the 2024 Formula 1 Grand Prix season live Watch Formula 1 in ESPN networks all season long