Lando Norris takes Formula One season’s final pole in McLaren one-two at Abu Dhabi GP
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McLaren's Lando Norris with Hollywood actor Terry Crews after qualifying in pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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ABU DHABI – Lando Norris led a McLaren front row sweep in qualifying for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Dec 7, with the team perfectly placed to win their first Formula One constructors’ title since 1998.
The Briton swept to pole position 0.209 seconds clear of Australian teammate Oscar Piastri at the floodlit Yas Marina Circuit.
Norris said after the race: “It was a perfect, perfect day for us, probably a little bit tougher than we were hoping for.
“We’ve been quick all weekend, we were pleased with the one-two but it was a bit trickier than what we would have liked.
“My lap in the end was strong and it was just how we wanted to end today.
“We have got to beat Ferrari – that’s the aim, but we’ve got to do it in style. I want to win. We know what we have to do, so we are keeping our heads down and staying focused.
“Tomorrow we are going to have a good chance at least with one of our cars and we will be giving it everything we’ve got.
“We know in the back of our minds what we really have to do to achieve our big goal.”
Ferrari, 21 points behind McLaren, saw their challenge unravel. Carlos Sainz is third on the grid but Charles Leclerc is set to start on the back row after qualifying 14th with an additional 10-place penalty.
“I think it was already extremely difficult, a mission impossible before the weekend started,” said Sainz of Ferrari’s prospects.
“But until the chequered flag comes down tomorrow, anything is possible.”
Nico Hulkenberg was a remarkable fourth-fastest for Haas with four-time world champion Max Verstappen fifth for Red Bull.
Pierre Gasly will line up sixth for Alpine, George Russell seventh for Mercedes and Fernando Alonso eighth for Aston Martin. Valtteri Bottas, in what could be his last F1 race, is ninth for Sauber. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez completed the top 10.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton qualified only 18th for his last race for Mercedes before switching to Ferrari, the Briton unlucky after a broken plastic bollard was wedged under his car.
“You couldn’t make it up, you really couldn’t, but it is what it is,” said Hamilton, the most successful driver at the track with five wins.
“We gave it everything... the car was in a good place. Every practice session went well, I was ahead of my teammate all weekend but when we got to qualifying, I think as a team we didn’t perform in terms of the timing.”
On his last qualifying session with the team, he added: “Every day and more than ever, I’ve just tried to be really present...
“Just trying to take it in because it’s the last time we will be racing and driving in Silver Arrows and it’s all my wins, all my success through my life, so every moment is a special moment and I would have loved to get a podium for the guys this weekend and it just didn’t work out.” AFP, REUTERS
