Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes farewell tour got off to a disastrous start in Abu Dhabi. The seven-time world champion was eliminated in Q1. Lando Norris went on the claim pole position in a front-row lockout for McLaren.
The first part of 2024’s final qualifying session got off to a dramatic star, with Haas announcing themselves as surprise contenders at the front end of the field. Sergio Perez saw his best effort deleted due to track limits, only for it to be reinstated following a review from the stewards.
Hamilton’s luck was miserable – he collected a bollard knocked onto the track by Kevin Magnussen, ruining his final Q1 effort. The Brit was eliminated alongside Zhou Guanyu, both Williams drivers and Alpine debutant Jack Doohan.
Q2 produced a flashpoint in the Constructors’ Championship title fight. Charles Leclerc ran wide at Turn One, and the lap that sent him to the top of the timing screens was deleted, dropping him into the bottom five. With a 10-place grid penalty looming, the Monegasque racer now faces a fight from the back of the grid.
There was a feelgood moment for Valtteri Bottas who made it through to Q3 in what could be his final Grand Prix start. In the bottom five, Leclerc was joined by Lance Stroll, Kevin Magnussen and the two VCARB racers.
