F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more

Lando Norris will start from pole position for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Here’s how and when you can watch the race.

McLaren converted its domination during practice at Yas Marina into a 1-2 in qualifying, with Norris taking pole ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri.

The Woking-based squad holds a 21-point lead over Ferrari in the world constructors’ championship tussle, with the Scuderia enduring a tough qualifying with Charles Leclerc knocked out in Q2 after losing his best lap time for exceeding track limits at Turn 1.

With Leclerc also serving a 10-place grid penalty for a battery change, the Monegasque driver will start from 19th on the grid. Team-mate Sainz had an untroubled qualifying but couldn’t challenge the McLaren pair in third place.

Lewis Hamilton also faces a fight through the pack after dropping out in Q1 of qualifying, meaning he will start his final race for Mercedes in 16th.

Nico Hulkenberg stunned in qualifying for Haas with fourth place but was handed a three-place grid drop by the FIA stewards for overtaking at pit exit during Q1. This promoted Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Mercedes’ George Russell.

Hulkenberg will instead start from seventh, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas with Sergio Perez rounding out the top 10 for Red Bull.

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

When is the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

Date: Sunday 8 December 2024
Start time: 5:00pm local time/1:00pm GMT

The 24th round of the 2024 F1 season, the Abu Dhabi GP, gets under way at 5:00pm local time on Sunday 8 December.

How can I watch Formula 1?

In the United Kingdom, Formula 1 is broadcast live on Sky Sports, with highlights shown on Channel 4 several hours after the race has finished. Live streaming through NOW is also available in the UK.

Sky Sports F1, which broadcasts the F1 races, can be added as part of the Sky Sports channels which costs £18 a month for new customers. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.99p or a month membership of £34.99p per month.

How can I watch the F1 Abu Dhabi GP?

In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports will be live broadcasting the Abu Dhabi GP.

The race will be shown live on Sky Sports F1, with pre-race coverage starting at 11:30am GMT, ahead of the race start at 1:00pm GMT.

Channels: Sky Sports F1
Start time: 11:30am GMT Sunday 8 December 2024

Autosport will be running a live text coverage of the Abu Dhabi GP.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

When can I watch the F1 Abu Dhabi GP highlights?

In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 is broadcasting highlights of the Abu Dhabi GP at 5:30pm GMT on Sunday. The full programme will run for two and a half hours, covering the pre-race, the race highlights and the initial post-race reaction to wrap up the major talking points of the race weekend.

For the entire 2024 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. The highlights will also be available on Channel 4’s on-demand catch-up services.

Channel: Channel 4
Start time: 5:30pm GMT, Sunday 8 December 2024

Will the F1 Abu Dhabi GP be on the radio?

Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2024 F1 season will be available on the BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Live Sports Extra stations, the BBC Sounds app and the via the BBC Sport website.

Live coverage of the Abu Dhabi GP will start at 1:00pm GMT on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and on the BBC Sounds app.