McLaren gained the Formulation 1 constructors’ championship on Sunday for the primary time in additional than 1 / 4 century, securing it within the remaining race of the season by protecting chief rival Ferrari at bay.
It gained with a decisive lights-to-flag victory by Lando Norris in Abu Dhabi, touchdown the storied British staff its first championship since 1998, when former McLaren driver Mika Häkkinen gained certainly one of his two driver’s championships.
“Congrats, everybody! Unbelievable. Properly carried out, everybody. So pleased with you all. You all deserve this,” Norris stated by way of staff radio after taking the checkered flag. “Subsequent yr’s going to be my yr, too.”
It was additionally a triumphant second for Zak Brown, the jovial and media-friendly American CEO of McLaren, who took the job in 2018 and oversaw McLaren’s rise from a struggling midfield staff. The constructors’ trophy carries extra than simply bragging rights — it comes with massive sums of coveted prize cash, too.
“What an superior staff effort,” Brown stated on the Sky Sports activities and ESPN broadcast. “Superb! That was anxious.”
Norris quipped within the postrace interview: “Me and Zak are going to get completely hammered tonight.”
Ferrari completed second and third within the race with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, respectively, however the double podium wasn’t sufficient. Heading into the season finale, Ferrari’s two drivers wanted to outscore McLaren’s two drivers by a minimum of 21 factors. The Italian staff hasn’t gained a championship since 2008.
The tip of the 2024 season additionally marks a changing-of-the-guard second for F1, with a rising and a few older drivers stepping apart.
McLaren’s comfy 1-2 begin on the grid Sunday instantly descended into chaos after its different driver, Oscar Piastri, spun round within the first nook after tangling with Max Verstappen — a crash that earned the Purple Bull driver a 10-second penalty.
In the meantime, Sainz tucked into second place early on behind Norris and completed there. Leclerc, who began in nineteenth place after taking a grid penalty for exceeding his allotment of energy unit elements, charged all the way in which as much as sixth place in simply the primary 10 laps.
However Norris managed the race on the entrance and opened up a spot that no person may problem, one which proved essential for his staff.
Piastri completed tenth after getting a 10-second penalty of his personal for operating into the again of Williams driver Franco Colapinto.
Purple Bull dominance ended this yr
Purple Bull completed in third place general after dominating the final two seasons, with McLaren and Ferrari — and infrequently Mercedes — enhancing their vehicles and gaining floor, delivering thrilling and unpredictable battles for followers who need shut competitors.
Verstappen nonetheless — his fourth in a row — enabled by a robust displaying within the early a part of the season earlier than his struggles started. After successful seven out of the primary 10 races, Verstappen gained simply two out of the final 14. He final month, turning into simply the sixth driver in F1 historical past to win 4 or extra championships. Norris completed second within the standings after a .
The season marked a after two seasons the place it was untouchable, together with a 2023 season the place it gained a staggering 21 out of twenty-two races.
However by the tip of the 2024 season, it wasn’t even a contender for the constructors’ trophy, with Purple Bull second driver Sergio Perez having a depressing season. He completed a distant eighth within the driver’s standings, marking his first winless season throughout his fourth yr with the staff. Perez couldn’t muster a single top-five end within the final 18 races. Perez retired from the Abu Dhabi race after a collision on the primary lap, which was deemed to not be his fault.
Perez’s future racing with Purple Bull is deeply unsure, though he’s contracted with the staff for subsequent yr.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completed fourth in his final race for Mercedes, ending the . Hamilton will be a part of Ferrari early subsequent yr, changing Sainz, who’s becoming a member of Williams.
“Thanks for all of the braveness, the dedication and the fervour,” Hamilton advised his staff over the radio. “What began out as a leap of religion become a journey into the historical past books.”
Jack Doohan completed fifteenth in his first race for Alpine in Abu Dhabi as he replaces the Haas-bound Esteban Ocon full time subsequent season.
The 18-year-old Formulation 2 driver Kimi Antonelli will substitute Hamilton at Mercedes, racing alongside George Russell.
Formulation 2 driver Oliver Bearman is becoming a member of Haas. And Gabriel Bortoleto, who gained the Formulation 2 championship in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, is slated to drive for Kick Sauber subsequent season.
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