The 2024 Formula 1 season has come to a close last weekend with the image of McLaren celebrating in Yas Marina after winning their first constructors’ championship in quite some time. Lando Norris put in a solid shift in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this week to complete the Papayas’ remarkable turnaround.
McLaren’s win coincided with Red Bull’s worst result since the Monaco Grand Prix, as the Milton Keynes outfit finished third in the constructors’ championship after some lacklustre outings by Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Verstappen probably didn’t feel the need to go all out since he already won his fourth drivers’ championship during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, while Perez suffered a DNF.
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lewis Hamilton have bid farewell to Ferrari and Mercedes, and Valtteri Bottas left Yas Marina in a defiant mood.
Norris ensures McLaren end their drought
It was a pretty straightforward week for Lando Norris, as he secured pole position and won the actual race last Sunday in Yas Marina. As a result, McLaren claimed their first constructors’ championship since 1998.
Despite having the favourable SBOTOP Formula 1 2024 odds to win the race, Norris was under pressure to deliver for the Papayas, especially after teammate Oscar Piastri was out of the picture following a first lap contact with Max Verstappen. After a 2.0s pit stop by the Papaya crew, Norris was in control the rest of the way, successfully withstanding the pressure of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc.
During his cool-down lap, Lando Norris made the vow to go after the drivers’ championship next season. With four victories and 13 podium finishes, Norris ended the 2024 season in a career-best P2 in the standings behind Max Verstappen, with whom he trails by 63 points.
“It’s my goal, it’s our goal as a team,” Norris stated. “We want to win the constructors’, we want to win the drivers’ next year. I made my mistakes this year but I’ve learned a lot – I’ve learned a lot from Max and my competitors around me. As much as I’m happy now, I’m excited to get next year going.”
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri ended up finishing in P10 after being spun around by Max Verstappen in the opening lap and getting a 10-second penalty for colliding with Williams’ Franco Colapinto. With their positive Formula 1 2024 results, McLaren finished the year 14 points clear of second-seeded Ferrari.
Sainz and Hamilton made their last hurrahs count
Carlos Sainz Jr. reminded Ferrari what they’ll be missing after a spectacular P2 finish in his final race for the Prancing Horse before he goes to Williams. It was his second podium in Yas Marina and fourth top-two finish of his career-best season. Overall, Sainz has amassed 290 points to finish fifth in the drivers’ table, which includes two wins in Australia and Mexico.
“It hasn’t been an easy weekend for me, obviously, knowing it was the last one,” Sainz admitted. “I tried to remind myself to try and enjoy the race as much as possible and to give the absolute maximum for this team. Jumping out of the car, I already had the bittersweet feeling.”
Lewis Hamilton overcame a woeful qualifying by putting up a vintage performance, as the seven-time world champion finished P4 despite starting at P18 on the grid. It was the kind of outing that will have Ferrari fans hyped ahead of next season. The 39-year-old driver caps off the 2024 Formula 1 campaign with 223 points, good for seventh place in the drivers’ table.
“When I stopped the car, I just wanted to embrace the moment, because it’s the last time I’m going to step into a Mercedes and represent them, it’s been the greatest honour of my life,” Hamilton said. “I’m proud of every race, every pole position, every win we’ve had together, every championship, so when I knelt next to it, I was just giving thanks…I’m proud of everyone.”
Bottas makes defiant claim after Kick Sauber departure
Valtteri Bottas has insisted he’s “not done yet” in Formula 1 after another woeful performance in Yas Marina. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was Bottas’ last chance to leave a lasting impression, but his race went downhill on the very first lap despite a solid qualifying. The 35-year-old driver picked up damage on his car (and a 10-second penalty) after colliding with Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen.
Meanwhile, teammate Zhou Guanyu limped to 13th place after a horrific start. The Chinese international received a five-second penalty for a false start, and he never recovered from there.
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