Winners and Losers from 2024 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Yas Marina Circuit hosted a remarkable season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which saw Lando Norris secure McLaren the F1 constructors’ title with victory.

Norris converted pole position into a comfortable victory, ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. 

Oscar Piastri was unable to support Norris against Ferrari, as he was taken out by Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, Norris sealed the title for McLaren.

So, who has made the RacingNews365 list of winners and losers for the 2024 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

Winner – McLaren

The biggest winner of the Abu Dhabi GP was, of course, McLaren. Norris’ victory from pole position ended 26 years of hurt for the Woking-based team. 

McLaren’s constructors’ title is its first since 1998, with all the signs pointing towards the team being in contention to defend its crown next year. 

Piastri was unfortunate to be struck by Verstappen, with it having increased the pressure on Norris. 

However, the British driver made no errors, and delivered a faultless performance to claim the race win and crown McLaren as champions. 

Loser – Ferrari

When there is a winner, there is a loser. On this occasion, that was Ferrari. The Italian outfit gave it everything, but failed to topple McLaren. 

Ferrari’s biggest problem was Charles Leclerc’s 10-place grid penalty, as that ensured that a recovery drive would be required by the Monegasque. 

He did that magnificently, finishing in third after starting at the back of the grid. Carlos Sainz sealed second in his final race for the Maranello-based team.

Had Sainz won, Ferrari would have won the title. In the end, it was so close but so far for the historic team.

Winner – Lewis Hamilton

Finishing just off the podium was Lewis Hamilton, in his final race as a Mercedes driver. Hamilton performed an excellent fightback from 16th on the grid. 

He endured a Q1 elimination after a stroke of bad luck saw a bollard go underneath his W15, caused by Kevin Magnussen hitting it onto the circuit.

It set-up a challenging final race of his Mercedes career, yet he used all his talent to progress to fourth; including, a stunning last-lap overtake on George Russell. 

By overtaking Russell, it ensured that Hamilton scored more points than him across the three seasons they spent together.

Loser – Haas

Whilst McLaren came out on top in the fight for the constructors’ title, Haas fell short in the fight for sixth. 

Nico Hulkenberg did score four points for Haas in P8, although this alone was not enough to overcome the team’s initial five-point deficit to Alpine. 

To add to Haas’ woes, Pierre Gasly finished in seventh for the French outfit. What hurt Haas was a grid penalty for Hulkenberg, who had initially qualified in an incredible fourth. 

In the end, Haas finished sixth in the standings and seven points behind Alpine. Magnussen’s final F1 race was also ruined, due to being hit by Valtteri Bottas.

Winner – Pierre Gasly

Alpine sealing sixth in the constructors’ standings is largely thanks to Gasly, who scored yet more points in Abu Dhabi. 

Whilst Esteban Ocon’s second-place finish in Brazil cannot be forgotten, Gasly is largely responsible for securing Alpine sixth. 

The French driver has shown excellent pace over recent rounds and has become a consistent driver in both Q3 and the points. 

He was faultless in Abu Dhabi and has proven why Alpine has put so much faith in him. 

Loser – Valtteri Bottas

Unfortunately, in what could be his final F1 race, Valtteri Bottas makes the loser category for Abu Dhabi. 

It was looking so good for the Finnish driver after qualifying, as he progressed to Q3, giving him hope of scoring his first point of the season. 

Sadly, it was an accident-packed race for Bottas, who was penalised on the first lap for hitting Sergio Perez. 

He also made heavy contact with Magnussen at Turn 6, resulting in him retiring from the race and ending 2024 without a point.