Lando Norris led a one-two from team-mate Oscar Piastri in second follow on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as McLaren made an encouraging begin to their try and seal the Constructors’ Championship.
McLaren had already been handed a significant enhance earlier on Friday when Ferrari, who’re making an attempt to overturn a 21-point deficit going into Sunday’s season finale, suffered an enormous blow as Charles Leclerc incurred a 10-place grid penalty for taking a brand new battery.
Their prospects of profitable the constructors’ title for the primary time since 1998 had been boosted additional in Friday night’s essential session, through which circumstances are most just like these for qualifying and the race, when Norris and Piastri impressed.
Norris set a time of 1:23.517s to complete greater than two tenths of a second away from Piastri, whereas the pair additionally exhibited sturdy tempo on their longer race simulation runs.
Nico Hulkenberg was an extra couple of tenths again in a shocking third for Haas forward of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, whereas Leclerc might solely handle sixth.
Sky Sports activities revisit Lewis Hamilton’s most emotional moments for Mercedes forward of his closing race in Abu Dhabi.
Lewis Hamilton, who’s driving for Mercedes for the ultimate time earlier than ending a 12-season run with the workforce to hitch Ferrari subsequent yr, was fifth.
George Russell and Max Verstappen – the 2 drivers who’ve been the centre of consideration in Abu Dhabi on account of their extraordinary feud – each struggled.
Mercedes’ Russell might solely handle thirteenth after making an error on his soft-tyre run, whereas world champion Verstappen was sad with the dealing with of his Purple Bull as he might solely handle seventeenth.
Craig Slater took a more in-depth have a look at how the Qatar penalty fallout escalated between George Russell and Max Verstappen after George labelled the Purple Bull driver as a ‘bully’.
Verstappen, Sainz and Piastri had been three of six drivers who sat out first follow to permit their groups to finish their obligated quota of younger driver classes for the season.
Extra to observe…
Sky Sports activities F1’s dwell Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Saturday December 7
8.10am: F1 Academy Race One
10.15am: Abu Dhabi GP Follow Three (session begins at 10.30am)
12.10pm: F2 Dash Race
1.15pm: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*
4pm: F1 Academy: Race Two
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday December 8
7.10am: F1 Academy Race Three
9.20am: F2 Function Race
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP build-up
1pm: The ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP response
4pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally dwell on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion
Watch the ultimate race of the 2024 Components 1 season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – dwell on Sky Sports activities F1, with Sunday’s race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports activities F1 or stream with NOW
