McLaren on course for title after sweeping front row

ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Lando Norris led McLaren’s front row in qualifying for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday, with the team perfectly positioned to win its first Formula One constructors’ title since 1998.

The Briton took pole position 0.209 seconds ahead of Australian teammate Oscar Piastri on the floodlit Yas Marina circuit.

Previously, the pair had dominated the final practice as well as the second session on Friday.

“We want to win, I want to win. We know what we have to do…we’ll have a good chance tomorrow,” Norris said, calling the day perfect after setting a pole lap of one minute 22.595 seconds.

Team boss Zak Brown added: “I won’t sleep well tonight, but I’m very excited for tomorrow.”

Ferrari, 21 points behind McLaren, saw their challenge crumble with Carlos Sainz third on the grid, but Charles Leclerc started 19th after qualifying 14th with an additional 10-place penalty.

The Monegasque had his lap annulled in the second phase for exceeding the limits of the track.

“I think it was already extremely difficult, a mission impossible before the weekend started,” Sainz said of Ferrari’s prospects.

“It was always going to be difficult… but until the checkered flag falls tomorrow anything is possible.”

Nico Hulkenberg qualified with a remarkable fourth place for what will be a farewell to Haas, the German will move to Sauber next year, but was then demoted three places for overtaking two cars in the pitlane exit tunnel.

That moved four-time world champion Max Verstappen from fifth to fourth place for Red Bull.

Verstappen had taken provisional pole on new tyres, despite a huge slide, before the final flying laps with the McLaren drivers second and third on used tyres.

“If I hadn’t crashed in the last corner, I think I could have fought for second place,” he said.

Pierre Gasly will start fifth with Alpine, George Russell sixth with Mercedes and directly behind Verstappen.

WAR OF WORDS

That could lead to a spicy start, with Verstappen and Russell in a war of words that has gripped the paddock since Thursday.

Fernando Alonso will start eighth for Aston Martin, while Valtteri Bottas, in what will probably be his last F1 race, will start ninth for Sauber.

The popular Finn has yet to score a point in 23 races this season and a top 10 position on Sunday would be a fitting way to start.

Sergio Perez, whose place is also under intense scrutiny due to his poor performance since his contract was extended, completed the top 10 for Red Bull but was again well off the pace.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton qualified only 18th but will start 16th in his final race with Mercedes before switching to Ferrari. The Brit was unlucky because a broken plastic bollard got stuck under his car.

The item was torn up by Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and then picked up by Hamilton, in his last chance to make the cut.

“You couldn’t get it back, you really couldn’t, but it is what it is,” said Hamilton, the most successful driver on the track as well as in Formula One, with five wins.

“We gave it everything, I gave it everything, the car was in a good place. Every practice session went well, I was ahead of my teammate all weekend, but when we got to qualifying I think as a team we didn’t have a good performance.” terms of the moment.”

Australian rookie Jack Doohan, son of motorcycling great Mick, replaced Esteban Ocon at Alpine but qualified last. He will start 17th and ahead of the two Williams drivers who have sanctions.

Alpine fights to stay sixth and ahead of Haas, with millions of dollars at stake.