There was plenty of action again in the final qualifying of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Lando Norris took the best starting position and ninth pole of his career in Abu Dhabi (December 7). Oscar Piastri completed the team’s perfect result for McLaren with second place.
Norris was happy with the result after chasing the times: “We are happy about the front row of the grid.” As for the duel for the constructors’ world championship with Ferrari,the conventional team now has all the trump cards. but driving defensively is not the way. Norris announced this. “We want to finish it in style tomorrow.We want to win.”
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Max Verstappen was fast enough to take pole position but made a mistake on his fastest lap.
Verstappen throws pole away
Carlos Sainz came third in a Ferrari. But Nico Hülkenberg was the sensation in qualifying. The Germans drove the fourth best time. But there was trouble: When he left the pits, he caught two cars in Q2. The stewards investigated the offense and handed Hulkenberg a three-place grid penalty. After qualifying he was still confident: “The clock was ticking and my first lap wasn’t good. We were under pressure.I was told to pass a few cars – and I did that. I don’t expect a penalty.”
Max Verstappen inherited his place. The Red Bull man had set the fastest time in the first attempt in Q3, but in the final corner the champion came out too far and almost landed in the wall during a power slide.In the last attempt he coudl not improve any further.
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) went to the west of his former stablemate. Las Vegas winner george Russell in the Mercedes could not get past P6. Hülkenberg starts from seventh place. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Valtteri Bottas in Sauber and second Red Bull driver Sergio Perez completed the top ten.
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Charles Leclerc was thrown out in Q2 and went back to his Ferrari team.
Leclerc mit Track-Limit-Foul
Charles Leclerc received a penalty for violating the track boundary in the second part of qualifying. The Monegasque was only in tenth place after the first run and still had to improve his time. This was accomplished at first, but the best time was immediately cancelled. Leclerc got too far out of turn 1 with his Ferrari and flew out. Due to the installation of the third battery on Friday, he received a penalty of ten starting places.That puts him at the back of the field for the race.
Lewis hamilton suffered a heavy slap in his final qualifying session for Mercedes. His team sent the record winner late on the track and his warm-up lap was not optimal as he had to make way for drivers on fast laps. Just five seconds before time expired, Hamilton launched his final effort.
In T14 he then picked up a mullard thrown by kevin magnussen in front of the car on the racing line. The Naughty had to jump over the pavement to avoid it. After being eliminated, the 39-year-old said in frustration: ”That was bad, guys!” His current team boss, Toto Wolff, was also angry with his team. “Yeah, that was bad.”
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How does max Verstappen’s performance in teh qualifying session influence his strategy for the race in abu Dhabi?
Interview between Time.news editor (TNE) and Formula 1 Expert (F1E)
TNE: Welcome to Time.news! Today we’re thrilled to have as our guest a renowned formula 1 expert, [Expert’s Name]. We’ve just witnessed an exhilarating qualifying session in Abu Dhabi for the 2024 season. Lando Norris has once again shown his prowess by clinching pole position. What are your thoughts on his performance?
F1E: Thank you for having me! Lando’s performance was remarkable,to say the least. Securing his ninth pole position is a testament to his skill and consistency throughout the season. He seemed very pleased with his lap time, and rightly so; McLaren is really shining during this closing phase of the season.
TNE: Absolutely! It’s not just Norris, though. Oscar piastri also put in a commendable effort with a second-place finish.How notable is this for McLaren in the context of the constructors’ championship?
F1E: It’s critical. A strong showing from both drivers reinforces McLaren’s position and gives them a competitive edge, especially against Ferrari in the constructors’ championship battle. Having both cars on the front row is an ideal scenario as they head into the race, allowing them to strategize effectively against their rivals.
TNE: Speaking of strategy, Norris mentioned that they wont to finish the championship in style with a win. With that goal in mind,how should McLaren approach the race tomorrow?
F1E: They need to adopt an aggressive yet calculated approach. While defense is key against Ferrari, aiming for victory means they must take risks and look for opportunities to overtake effectively.McLaren has the pace, but staying proactive rather of reactive will be crucial in determining the race outcome.
TNE: that makes sense, especially given the dynamic nature of Formula 1 races. Now, let’s touch on Max Verstappen—he also showed incredible speed, but ultimately made a mistake on his fastest lap. How do you think that will affect his mindset going into the race?
F1E: Max is an incredibly confident and resilient driver.While the mistake may be disappointing, it can also serve as motivation for him. he knows how to put setbacks behind him—he’ll be focused on executing the best race he can tomorrow. However, it does illustrate how tightly contested this season finale is, even for the reigning champion.
TNE: It certainly adds to the drama! what are your predictions for tomorrow’s race? will we see McLaren maintain their momentum, or could Ferrari pull something unexpected?
F1E: Predictions in F1 are tricky, given how quickly situations can change! however, if McLaren can capitalize on their front-row starting positions and manage their tires efficiently, I think they have a solid shot at victory. Ferrari will undoubtedly be pushing hard to capitalize on any slip-ups, so the race will likely come down to strategy, pit stops, and perhaps a bit of luck.It’s set to be an exhilarating showdown!
TNE: Exciting times ahead! Thank you, [Expert’s Name], for your insights. We look forward to seeing how the season finale unfolds.
F1E: Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to discuss the thrilling world of Formula 1.
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[End of Interview]