Norris Grabs Pole in Abu Dhabi as Leclerc Faces Back Row Start
Lando Norris will start from pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, the final race of the Formula 1 season, after delivering the fastest time in a tense qualifying session Saturday.
McLaren on Top, Ferrari Falters
Under the bright lights of the Yas Marina circuit, the Briton edged out his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown at the front of the grid. The result has put McLaren in a commanding position in the fight for the Constructors’ Championship. With a 21-point lead over Ferrari heading into the final race and a maximum of 44 points up for grabs, McLaren is well-positioned to secure the title.
It was a Miserable day for Ferrari, however. Charles Leclerc will start the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from the back row. The Monegasque driver was eliminated in Q2 with the 14th fastest time after having his best lap deleted for exceeding track limits. To add insult to injury, he incurred a 10-place grid penalty for a power unit change on Friday.
Another Pole for Norris in a Tight Battle
This marks Norris’ eighth pole position of the season and the ninth of his career, moving him closer to Dutchman Max Verstappen, (Red Bull), who currently leads the pole position count with nine.
“I’m very happy,” Norris said after qualifying. “It’s a perfect day for us with these first two places on the grid even if it was a little more difficult than we hoped. We are ahead of the Ferraris, we know what we have to do.”
Surprises and Disappointments on the Grid
Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri secured second on the grid, setting the stage for a potential McLaren 1-2 finish.
Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) surprised everyone by snatching third on the grid, even putting himself ahead of Max Verstappen who will start in fifth, furthering adding to the intrigue surrounding the race.
Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine) took a solid sixth, ahead of Monday’s Mercedes challenger George Russell and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin.
Valtteri Bottas (Sauber) bagged a season best with ninth, outpacing Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, competing in his final race before testing his future with Mercedes, will start 16th after struggling to find pace during qualifying. The Brit was also unlucky as he wrestled with a piece of debris during his last flying lap, after a piece formerly attached to Kevin Magnussen’s Haas became lodged under his car, hindering his performance.
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Can McLaren win the Constructors’ Championship this year?
## Norris on Pole: A McLaren Resurgence?
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Joining me now is motorsport journalist, Sarah Jones, to discuss the thrilling qualifying sessions for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sarah, Lando Norris secured pole position. This seems like a massive statement from McLaren, doesn’t it?
**Sarah Jones:** Absolutely! It’s been a remarkable turnaround for McLaren this season. [[1](https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cd9xxkdjk2xo)] Seeing both Norris and Piastri on the front row in Abu Dhabi is a testament to their hard work and the car’s development.
**Host:** It certainly sets them up perfectly for a potential Constructors’ Championship win. Can you explain the significance of that?
**Sarah Jones:** It would be huge for McLaren, their first since 1998. They’ve got a strong lead over Ferrari heading into this final race. [[1](https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cd9xxkdjk2xo)]Winning here would be a significant moment for the team and signal their return to the top of Formula 1.
**Host:** And what about Ferrari? They seem to be struggling.
**Sarah Jones:** It’s been a disastrous qualifying for them, especially for Leclerc who’ll be starting from the back row. [[1](https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cd9xxkdjk2xo)]They’re definitely on the back foot now, and it’ll be a tough challenge to make any real progress from there.
**Host:** All eyes will definitely be on McLaren tomorrow then.
**Sarah Jones:** Absolutely. This could be a historic day for them.
