DECEMBER 11, 2024

(Formula1.com)

Lando Norris has brought the 2024 F1 season to a close in style by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in dominant form, the Briton putting in an assured drive to claim victory and also help McLaren to clinch its first constructors’ championship since 1998. It was a strong start to the race for pole-sitter Norris (No. 4 McLaren Formula 1 Team) amid chaos behind him, with Oscar Piastri (No. 81 McLaren Formula 1 Team) and Max Verstappen (No. 1 Oracle Red Bull Racing) making contact in a battle for second, which saw the latter receive a penalty and the former drop down the order. There was also further trouble for the Australian, who received a punishment of his own for a collision with the Franco Colapinto (No. 43 Williams Racing). And while various other fights played out across the field – which saw a solid performance from McLaren’s title rivals Ferrari – Norris kept a cool head up front to triumph, taking the checkred flag by five seconds from former team mate Carlos Sainz (No. 55 Scuderia Ferrari), which confirmed that the constructors’ crown had gone to Mclaren. Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Scuderia Ferrari) put in a fighting performance to climb back up to third, having started back in P19 on the grid. Behind him, a late duel played out between teammates George Russell (No. 63 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team) and Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team), with the seven-time world champion snatching fourth in the final moments to bring his chapter with the squad to an emotional close. Verstappen was sixth, the Red Bull man having bounced back from his earlier penalty, with Pierre Gasly (No. 10 BWT Alpine F1 Team) following in seventh as Alpine sealed P6 in the constructors’ championship, while Nico Hulkenberg (No. 27 MoneyGram Haas F1 Team) was eighth ahead of Fernando Alonso (No. 14 Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team) in ninth. Piastri’s recovery drive ended with 10th place, a disappointing outcome for the Australian despite his team’s success. Watch the Race Highlights here. (Thank you to Formula1.com)

Editor's Note: This is our dearly departed billboard, which we had at Road America for several years. Peter gifted the phrase "America's National Park of Speed" to the track, which now uses it proudly in all of its communications. -WG

Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG