In an action-packed race, McLaren sealed the Constructors’ Championship at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. While many drivers excelled under the lights of Yas Marina, others floundered, while some prepared to say goodbye to the sport for good. Here are the winners and losers of the 2024 F1 Abu Dhabi GP.
Lando Norris: 10
Grid Position P1, Race Result P1
Much like Damon Hill after his title defeat to Michael Schumacher in 1995, Norris appeared reinvigorated in Abu Dhabi, knowing the championship was settled. But with the opportunity to seal McLaren’s first Constructors’ title in 26 years with victory in Yas Marina, the Briton needed a flawless drive. Given his apparent meltdown under pressure in Brazil, all eyes were on Norris to see if he could withstand the pressure of another title decider.
Nailing his start, he immediately began to control his pace and tyres, always having an answer to Carlos Sainz’s efforts to spook him. Creating a five-second cushion to the Spaniard, he was able to react a lap later than Ferrari throughout the race as a result. He only lost his lead during his pit stops, and never looked under pressure. He romped to the chequered flag almost six seconds ahead of the Ferrari, securing second place in the Drivers’ Championship as the icing on the cake.
Abu Dhabi showcased a calm, collected, and unfazed Norris. This is a stark contrast to the driver who threw away his slim title hopes in Sao Paulo and struggled to hold on to pole positions at race starts. If he replicates Yas Marina-like performances in 2025, rectifies his starts, and learns to deal with Verstappen’s aggression, a sustained title fight will be on the cards – a flawless and effortless drive.
Oscar Piastri: 7
Grid Position P2, Race Result P10
Piastri’s race effectively ended at the first corner after Max Verstappen’s somewhat ill-judged divebomb down the inside of the McLaren. Sent spinning to the back of the field, his evening spiralled after colliding with the Williams of Franco Colapinto and receiving a 10-second penalty.
Fitting the hard tyres, he struggled to pass the Aston Martins, but once clear of Lance Stroll, he managed to secure a solitary point in the closing laps—an unfortunate final race in what has been a strong sophomore year for Piastri. But recovering to 10th after that terrible start demonstrates there is more to come from Piastri next season. He also joins a very elite club, completing every racing lap in 2024. Only Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen can boast this achievement – not bad names to be associated with.
Carlos Sainz: 9.5
Grid Position P3, Race Result P2
Sainz likely could hardly believe his luck as two of his biggest rivals for the evening disappeared off-track in front of him. Now, with only Norris ahead, a charge would help seal the title. Neither he nor Ferrari had the pace to challenge Norris despite his heroic efforts. Pushing his SF-24 to the limit for the entirety of the race, Sainz eventually burned through his tyre performance and dropped back by the chequered flag.
It was a noble effort, hindered only by a mystery drop-off pace caused by a non-existent puncture. As he prepares to switch to Williams, the Abu Dhabi GP showcased Sainz’s skill and determination. Being forced out of a team to make way for Lewis Hamilton is tough, but the Spaniard can be proud of his final race in red.
Charles Leclerc: 9
Grid Position P19, Race Result P3
Storming through the field at a spectacular rate, Leclerc’s performance in the Abu Dhabi GP kept fans of McLaren and Ferrari on tenterhooks. Finding immense raw speed, the Monegasque carved his way through the pack to move into the top 10 in the opening lap. His overtakes were decisive, clean and of minimal risk, which is more than can be said for several of his rivals on Sunday evening.
Although he failed to catch his team-mate, Leclerc reaching third place on merit after starting on the back row of the grid is a spectacular achievement. Understandably devasted at the chequered flag, his driving in Yas Marina will give him confidence as he prepares to welcome Lewis Hamilton to Maranello in January. The only mark on his card for the weekend was a track limits breach in qualifying, which prevented his advancement to Q3.
Lewis Hamilton: 9
Grid Position P16, Race Result P4
In his last race for Mercedes, Hamilton’s race was nothing short of inspiring. Moving up to 12th after the first couple of laps, he had a similarly busy afternoon of overtaking at the restart. Carving his way through the field, his overtakes and strategic calls put him in a perfect position to pounce for a top-four finish at the end of the race. His legendary tyre and pace management closed down a gap of over 15 seconds to his team-mate in 27 laps.
His final lap overtake on George Russell at the same corner where he lost the title in 2021 will have likely proven highly satisfying. Emotional at the end of the race following his donuts on the grid, Hamilton hopes to rectify his qualifying woes before he heads to Bahrain for his debut in red next season. Although not to blame for his Q1 exit thanks to a loose bollard caught under his car and poor session management by his team, the Briton needs to rectify his qualifying woes.
George Russell: 7
Grid Position P6, Race Result P5
Russell’s race weekend was hindered by Mercedes’ choice to run experimental set-ups on his W15. While his teammate stormed through the field, Russell failed to make any meaningful progress. He proved unable to pass Pierre Gasly until the Frenchman pitted despite multiple attempts. Russell then ran comfortably ahead of Verstappen, but unable to catch Sainz, he emerged behind the Alpine after the pit stops.
Finally passing on Lap 27, his pace disappeared in the final phase of the race, allowing Hamilton to steam by. This is not the way he would have wanted to end the year and he will need to dig deep as he becomes the team leader at Brackley.
Max Verstappen: 5
Grid Position P4, Race Result P6
Verstappen’s lunge down the inside of Piastri at the first corner can be likened to a newly qualified driver switching lanes on the motorway without checking their mirrors. An entirely uncalled-for and misguided manoeuvre, it wrecked both his and Piastri’s evenings. The 10-second penalty for causing the collision was met with trademark petulance equivalent to a child throwing his toy out of his pram. Calling the stewards “stupid idiots” will go down with officials as well as a vegetable filling in an exquisite chocolate cake.
Recovering to sixth place at the chequered flag minimised the damage of a poor afternoon for the reigning World Champion, and his apology to Piastri post-race will have helped diffuse the situation. But stating he was fully alongside the McLaren into the corner was condemned by commentators and pundits alike, Verstappen clearly on a different plain of reality. Questions will once again be asked about his driving standards, which is far from ideal going into the off-season.
Sergio Perez: 3
Grid Position P10, Race Result DNF
It is impossible to rate Perez purely on his Sunday given his race was over halfway around the first lap, but 10th in qualifying isn’t what the doctor ordered. Spun around by the Sauber of Valtteri Bottas, the damage to his RB20 forced his retirement. On an evening when the Mexican needed a miracle performance, his immediate future in F1 looks set to come to a whimpering conclusion. The board meeting taking place in the immediate aftermath of Abu Dhabi will now decide his fate. But Perez must realise, despite his denials, that his F1 career is wrecked.
Pierre Gasly: 9.5
Grid Position P5, Race Result P7
Gasly executed a perfect race, placing his Alpine in precisely the right places to keep Russell behind him for 27 laps, even beating the Mercedes out of the pits and requiring to be overtaken. Only the top teams finished ahead of the Frenchman, in a dream result that secured Alpine sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship. After the nadir of the first few races, this is a just result for a driver and team that has transformed in the second half of the season. Gasly is also the only driver to not incur any crash damage in 2024, which is quite an achievement considering the competitive nature of F1’s midfield.
Jack Doohan: 4
Grid Position P17, Race Result P15
Doohan’s first Grand Prix was a baptism of fire, where he would either sink or swim. The result resembled frantically kicking above the water’s surface with armbands on. While not a stellar performance, the Australian needed to get acquainted with the ins and outs of F1 races. That said, the chasm in pace difference to Gasly across a full race weekend will be of concern to Alpine as it targets consistent points finishes in its final year as a works Renault team in 2025.
Nico Hulkenberg: 7
Grid Position P7, Race Result P8
After his somewhat disappointing outing in Qatar, Hulkenberg delivered one final solid performance for Haas. His misdemeanour in the pit lane tunnel cost him fourth place on the grid, hindering his efforts in Yas Marina. Unable to pass Gasly’s Alpine after the first corner melee, Haas’ battle for sixth place in the Constructors’ effectively ended on the first lap. Once passed by the likes of Leclerc, Hamilton and Verstappen, eighth place would always be the maximum result possible.
Kevin Magnussen: 5.5
Grid Position P14, Race Result P16
Magnussen’s race started with promise, and hopes of a double points finish for Haas. Moving up to seventh by the time the Virtual Safety Car was deployed on Lap 2, his race spectacularly unravelled. Dropping down the order after the restart, his race and F1 career ended on a disappointing note, becoming the second victim of Bottas’s mission to cause as much damage as a teenager playing Grand Theft Auto. It was an unfortunate exit for the Dane, whose aggression and straight-talking nature will be missed by the paddock as he begins a new chapter in sportscars with BMW.
Fernando Alonso: 9
Grid Position P8, Race Result P9
With the lack of competitiveness of the AMR24, a points finish would be a tall order for Alonso at the Abu Dhabi GP. He took full advantage of the first corner melee and embarked on a mission to keep Piastri’s McLaren behind him for the rest of the evening. Despite the vast pace difference between the Aston Martin and McLaren, Alonso managed his pace and finished just a second ahead of the Australian. Executing an almost perfect race, barring a few minor excursions off-track in the opening stages, his race is an indication of his prowess if given the right car.
Lance Stroll: 4
Grid Position P13, Race Result P14
Stroll had one job in Yas Marina: hold up Oscar Piastri for as long as possible to guarantee Alonso a points finish. Fulfilling his task perfectly, his pit stop relegated him to the lower order, where he would remain for the rest of the race, while his team-mate once again outraced him to finish in the points. Stroll called 2024 a challenging year; there have been fewer understatements across this season that match this observation – his place in F1 continues to be debated and will be while his performances are so poor.
Alex Albon: 6
Grid Position P18, Race Result P11
Albon’s final race of 2024 proved underwhelming at best. His struggles with Williams continued, and his lack of pace ensured he could not challenge for points on an afternoon where all but one of the team’s rivals managed to. Given almost no airtime during the race, he appeared when being passed by the likes of Piastri rather than when making any progress. Albon must raise his game now Sainz is arriving in the garage next door.
Franco Colapinto: 4
Grid Position P20, Race Result DNF
Starting from the back, Colapinto needed to keep out of trouble, and hope other drivers did the same as he aimed to end his Williams career on a high. Sadly for him, being rear-ended by Piastri in the opening laps severely damaged his car, leading to his retirement. What started out as a promising debut fizzled away for the young Argentine, but his name keeps cropping up in connection with an RB seat next season. For now, at least, an eventful F1 debut has ended.
Yuki Tsunoda: 5
Grid Position P11, Race Result P12
Tsunoda and RB were hopeful of points at the Abu Dhabi GP. However, this evaporated for the Japanese driver after he dropped positions at the start as his anti-stall system kicked in and needed to recover lost ground. But his lack of pace prevented this, and although a Herculean effort saw him get to the fringes of the points, he was never going to be able to challenge the likes of Piastri once the McLaren caught him in the closing stages.
Liam Lawson: 5
Grid Position P12, Race Result DNF
Sometimes the racing gods can decide to be cruel. Lawson fell victim to their whims in the season’s final race, first suffering a loose wheel after his pit stop, resulting in a 10-second stop-go penalty. Parking his car on the side of the track with smoke billowing from the rear only rubbed salt in the wound. Unfortunately, his pace in between his various malaises did not allow for a recovery drive through the field. Lawson will return to F1 next season, but whether in RB or Red Bull remains to be seen.
Zhou Guanyu: 6
Grid Position P15, Race Result P13
Making up two places at the start, Zhou’s run of good form look set to end his F1 career on a high. But a severe lack of pace saw him unable to push forward, and like Albon, rarely featured in the evening’s action. But finishing three seconds behind Tsunoda is an achievement and highlights the growth from him and Sauber in the second half of the year. He will not be on the grid next season, but Zhou did himself proud in Abu Dhabi.
Valtteri Bottas: 3
Grid Position P9, Race Result DNF
After qualifying in 9th, Sunday evening could and should have been a swansong for the Finn and a display of his vast experience. Instead, his race turned into a demolition derby. Spinning around Perez’s Red Bull put him on the backfoot, only then to finish his afternoon of destruction by clattering into Magnussen’s Haas. If Bottas does return to the grid in the years to come, he will have the ignominy of serving a five-place grid penalty.
