Norris wins F1 Abu Dhabi GP as McLaren takes Constructors' title

BEIJING - Lando Norris took a pole-to-flag win in Sunday's season-ending F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, ensuring that McLaren sealed their first Constructors' Championship title since 1998.

Coming into the Yas Marina Circuit, McLaren held a 21-point lead over Ferrari, and things seemed to be going the Woking squad's way after Saturday's qualifying session, with Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri locking out the front row of the grid.

However, things did not go to plan for McLaren on lap 1 of the race, with Piastri sent tumbling down the order after having been spun by Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

But while Piastri could only finish tenth after his early mishap, Norris controlled the race serenely from the front, and was never headed as he took his fourth win of the 2024 season.

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finished second and third - with Leclerc notably rising from 19th on the grid - meaning Ferrari outscored McLaren in Abu Dhabi by seven points, but Norris' victory guaranteed McLaren their first Constructors' title for 26 years.

"It feels incredible. Not for myself but for the whole team. They have done an amazing job from where we were at the beginning," said Norris, whose win also confirmed that he finished the season second in the Drivers' Championship, behind Verstappen.

"I'm so proud of everyone. It's been a lovely journey. To end the season like this is perfect.

"For us to win the Constructors' Championship after 26 years is pretty special.

"We are going to celebrate. This is a historic moment for the team. It's going to be a good night!"

Behind the top three, Lewis Hamilton signed off a 12-year stint with Mercedes with a fine drive to fourth from 16th on the grid. The Briton moves to Ferrari next year to replace Sainz, who will drive for Williams in 2025.

Hamilton's late charge saw him overtake teammate George Russell on the final lap, with Verstappen behind the Mercedes duo in sixth.

Pierre Gasly rounded off a solid weekend with seventh, securing sixth place in the Constructors' standings for Alpine, with Nico Hulkenberg eighth on his last outing for Haas before moving to Sauber.

Fernando Alonso took ninth for Aston Martin, with Piastri rounding out the points places.

At the end of the longest season in F1 history, several current drivers will not feature on the grid next year, with Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen and Franco Colapinto all to be replaced for 2025.

There are also question marks over the future of Sergio Perez, whose lacklustre performances in 2024 have fuelled speculation that the Mexican may be shown the door by Red Bull.

After having sealed his fourth consecutive Drivers' Championship two races ago in Las Vegas, Verstappen's final points tally for 2024 stands at 437 - some way off his record total of 575 from 2023, when there were two fewer Grands Prix. Norris finished second on 374 points, just ahead of Leclerc on 356.

McLaren's Championship-winning points total was 666 points. Ferrari finished second on 652, with Red Bull third on 589 points.