Lando Norris beats McLaren 1-2 for pole at season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Lando Norris called it “a perfect day” after taking pole ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri at Sunday's decisive season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to put McLaren within reach of a first constructors' title since 1998. In an eventful qualifying session on Saturday, where seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was unfortunately eliminated in Q1 in his final weekend with Mercedes, Norris clocked a time of one minute and 22.595 seconds, three-tenths of a second clear of Piastri. Left behind. Carlos Sainz, in his final weekend with Ferrari before leaving to join Williams, was third, 0.020 seconds behind Piastri, as McLaren endured its third front row lockout of the season.

Ferrari needed to overcome a 21-point deficit to take the Constructors' title ahead of McLaren, but were dealt a blow when Charles Leclerc was taken out in Q2 and, with a 10-place grid penalty, he was second on the grid. Will start from the back. sunday.

Nico Hulkenberg qualified fourth for Haas – before a three-place penalty – ahead of newly-crowned four-time world champion Red Bull's Max Verstappen, Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Mercedes' George Russell.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was eighth for Aston Martin, ahead of Sauber's Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez in the second Red Bull, 24 hours after describing his car as “the worst ever”.

“A perfect day for us,” said Norris, who scored his eighth pole of the season.

“Maybe a little harder than before because we've been strong all weekend. My lap was strong too so it was just what we wanted from today.”

Lance Stroll was first out for Q1 in his Aston Martin as the sun set over the Yas Marina Circuit in clear track conditions and temperatures of 25 (wind) and (30), perfect for an unprecedented 24th and final qualifying of the year .

Hamilton 'messed up'

After a lap cleanup due to Pérez and Franco Colapinto crossing track limits, Sainz took the lead as the Mexican lap restarted and Bottas took command, shortly before Hamilton, on a desperate late lap, made it have failed.

He was eliminated in Q1 for the third time in his last six races, before leaving Mercedes for Ferrari and in his 246th and final race for the 'Silver Arrows'.

“I've messed up for a long time, guys,” a frustrated Hamilton admitted on team radio. He said, “That was bad.”

Hamilton died when he picked up a bollard thrown into his path by Kevin Magnussen's Haas, which became lodged under his car, causing imbalance and loss of speed.

After a record 104 pole positions, 78 with Mercedes, it was a sad qualifying final for the seven-time champion before moving to Ferrari – and at a circuit where he has taken a record five poles.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff blamed “an idiot's mistake” for sending Hamilton out late in the second qualifying session when an errant bollard got under his car and ruined his performance and lap. Gave.

As a result, he would start from the back of the grid for his final race with Mercedes before joining Ferrari the following season.

“I just want to apologize to Lewis,” Wolfe said.

“We completely let him down. Not going earlier was a stupid mistake. Unforgivable, unforgivable! I have rarely been so disappointed by what happened.

In another incident, Russell was seen running off the track to avoid being bowled by Liam Lawson on the flying lap.

After much abuse on the RB radio channel, the managers investigated and took no further action, a shocking decision, a week after a similar issue which saw Russell promoted to pole position in Qatar , where Verstappen was penalised.

Verstappen set the pace of Q2 with an opening lap in 1:22.998 and decided to rest as his rivals took a second run – with Leclerc going on top before his lap was removed for track limits in turn one.

This meant he qualified 14th, but his penalty means he will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid – a major blow for Ferrari in their attempt to overtake McLaren.