If there was any want for a second to sum up ’s remaining season for , in what is ready to be his worst season, it was this gigantic slice of ailing fortune in Saturday’s qualifying beneath the night time sky in Abu Dhabi.
In want of enchancment on his remaining lap in Q1, Hamilton appeared pacy till a free bollard flew beneath his automobile ground and stayed there, wedged, for the remainder of his lap. For sure, it impacted his velocity and he certified third-slowest in his 246th and remaining qualifying session for Mercedes. He’ll begin sixteenth on Sunday attributable to grid penalties.
In distinction, Hamilton’s former workforce McLaren had a dream qualifying session and are actually on the cusp of their first constructors’ title in 26 years. British driver led house a one-two end, with Oscar Piastri alongside him on the entrance row amid joyous celebrations for the papaya-clad workforce on the pit wall.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is a spot behind the McLaren pair in third however Charles Leclerc, considered one of F1’s quickest drivers over one lap, was penalised for observe limits and certified solely 14th-fastest. A ten-place grid penalty, attributable to exceeding his battery allocation, added insult to harm and the Monegasque will begin second-last.
McLaren maintain a over Ferrari, and this qualifying outcome means they’ve one hand on that coveted trophy, and a first-place prize of £110m ($140m).
Nonetheless, loads can occur in a 58-lap Method 1 race. Nico Hulkenberg is a shock title excessive up on the leaderboard in fourth, whereas world champion Max Verstappen begins in fifth – two spots forward of George Russell in seventh.
However a collective sigh reverberated across the Yas Marina Circuit early on at Hamilton’s shortcoming. Kevin Magnussen had simply dislodged the bollard when Hamilton sped into its path. From that time on, the Q1 elimination was inevitable.
A disheartening remaining qualifying session for Mercedes, for the perfect qualifier within the sport’s historical past. But the 39 yr outdated, who’s transferring on to Ferrari subsequent yr, refused to be too despondent within the media pen afterwards.
“It’s simply my luck, it’s OK,” he mentioned. “I attempted, we tried. The automobile was in a very good place, possibly a podium was attainable this weekend, the timing was not optimised for the session and I simply ran out of time.”
Toto Wolff, along with his head bowed in shock within the storage, responded over the workforce radio to the rogue bollard: “Lewis, that was unhealthy.”
Norris, after claiming pole place by 0.209 seconds, admitted the outcome provides McLaren a “good probability” of claiming the groups title. Correction: it provides them a large probability.
“We wish to do it in type and we wish to win, I wish to win,” he mentioned.
“We all know what now we have to do. We’re staying centered however we’re right here to win each race attainable and tomorrow we may have a very good probability.
Whereas the drivers all need the person championships – and Norris was in rivalry for the drivers’ title till just a few errors and Verstappen’s skillset took it away from him – the groups are sometimes extra motivated by the status and money on provide for the constructors’ championship.
Not solely is it a good-looking payday – and bonuses throughout the workforce – however the winner occupies the primary storage within the pit lane within the subsequent season. We already know that Pink Bull, champions within the final two years, will end third regardless of Verstappen’s particular person title.
It’s an idiosyncrasy of F1 that almost all followers, significantly within the fashionable, Drive to Survive period, help a driver versus a workforce. Nowhere will that be extra evident than subsequent yr at Ferrari, as Hamilton followers change their Mercedes merchandise for all-out crimson.
TOP-10 – ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING
1. Lando Norris
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Carlos Sainz
4. Nico Hulkenberg
5. Max Verstappen
6. Pierre Gasly
7. George Russell
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Valtteri Bottas
10. Sergio Perez
But there are exceptions. In McLaren and Ferrari – the 2 oldest groups within the sport – you’ve outfits who’ve real fan followings within the hundreds, given their illustrious histories in Method One. Williams, struggling in second-last place within the standings in 2024, are additionally a workforce with legions of supporters.
Ferrari’s fanbase is probably the most well-known, significantly with the scarlet-red banners and flags on the two Italian races, at Imola and Monza.
But this weekend, Leclerc has been on the again foot from the off, with a bout of meals poisoning following Thursday night time’s end-of-season dinner between the drivers.
A lot can be wanted from Sainz, in his remaining race for Ferrari, to ruffle some feathers up forward. Oddly, the Scuderia have by no means gained in Abu Dhabi in 15 makes an attempt.
So the momentum lies totally with Zak Brown’s outfit. Each Ferrari, and Hamilton in the back of the pack, will seemingly want a security automobile or two to face any probability of constructing severe headway because the 2024 season concludes on Sunday.
