McLaren end the 2024 season with quickest pit stop, but Red Bull clinch overall glory

McLaren have not only clinched their first constructors’ title since 1998, but the Woking-based outfit completed the quickest tyre change at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as well.

McLaren arrived in Abu Dhabi with a 21-point lead over Ferrari. With the team having displayed dominant pace over the weekend, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ‘only’ needed to bring the cars home in decent positions to clinch the first title for the Woking-based outfit in 26 years.

While Norris was able to assert his lead in pole position at the start, Piastri suffered a contact at the hands of Max Verstappen in the first turn and dropped way down the running order to the back of the field, which served to make the scrap with Ferrari all the more exciting.

McLaren’s hopes now rested solely in the hands of their British driver. A win would give them the title, so it was pretty obvious that he and the team would have to deliver a perfect race.

And that’s just what they did as Norris managed to outpace his rivals, particularly on the hard compound. On coming into the pits for his one and only stop on lap 26, his pit crew also delivered a brilliant performance, and McLaren secured the last remaining DHL Fastest Pit Stop of the season with a time spent stationary of a mere 2.08 seconds for the tire swap.

Despite the quickest tyre change at the Yas Marina Circuit, things did not change in the overall standings of the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award, as Red Bull had already taken the title

After the race where his victory in Abu Dhabi sealed the constructors’ title for McLaren, a delighted Norris told : “This feels incredible.The team have done an amazing job this season to come from where we were at the beginning. I’m so proud of everyone.”