McLaren Dominates Abu Dhabi Qualifying with Norris and Piastri on Front Row

ABU DHABI, Dec 8 – Lando Norris secured pole position ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, giving McLaren a strong chance to win their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 at Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris clocked a time of 1:22.595, beating Piastri by three-tenths of a second in a dramatic qualifying session.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, in his final race with the team before joining Williams, qualified third, just 0.020 seconds behind Piastri. McLaren's front-row lockout marked their third of the season.

A key blow to Ferrari’s title hopes came when Charles Leclerc was eliminated in Q2 and will start from the back of the grid due to a 10-place penalty. Ferrari now trail McLaren by 21 points in the Constructors’ standings.

Nico Hulkenberg qualified fourth for Haas, but will drop three places due to a penalty, followed by Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and George Russell (Mercedes).

In a heartbreaking moment for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, he was eliminated in Q1 for the third time in his last six races with Mercedes. Hamilton struggled with a damaged car after picking up a bollard from Kevin Magnussen’s Haas, ending his final qualifying session with Mercedes in disappointment.

The drama continued with Russell running off track to avoid blocking Liam Lawson during a flying lap, though the stewards decided not to take any further action.

Norris called it “a perfect day” for McLaren, as they aim to finish the season strong with a potential Constructors' title on the line.