The 2024 Formula 1 season finale at Abu Dhabi is set to deliver high drama after a flurry of grid penalties reshuffled the starting order. Three penalties have altered the grid for Sunday’s race, including one with major implications for the championship fight between McLaren and Ferrari.
Leclerc’s Penalty Compounds Ferrari’s Woes
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc faces a 10-place grid penalty for taking a third energy store this season, a move that drops him from 14th to 19th on the grid. The penalty, combined with the deletion of his best Q2 lap for track limits, leaves Ferrari facing an uphill battle to claw back McLaren’s 21-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
Leclerc’s demotion, however, is slightly cushioned by penalties for both Williams drivers. Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto were hit with five-place grid penalties for additional gearbox changes after recent crash damage. With Colapinto struggling with floor repairs and qualifying last, the penalties mean Leclerc avoids starting dead last, slotting into 19th ahead of Colapinto and Albon.
Hamilton and Doohan Benefit from Chaos
The penalties also provide a small boost for Lewis Hamilton and Jack Doohan, both of whom endured difficult qualifying sessions. Hamilton, in his final race for Mercedes, initially qualified 18th after a stray bollard disrupted his session, but moves up to 16th. Alpine debutant Doohan, replacing Esteban Ocon after his early split from the team, moves to 17th despite being slowest in Q1 due to traffic.
McLaren in Pole Position for Glory
McLaren’s commanding front-row lockout, with Lando Norris on pole and Oscar Piastri alongside him, puts the Woking-based team in a prime position to clinch its first Constructors’ Championship since 1998. With Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz starting third and Leclerc relegated to 19th, the odds heavily favor McLaren to seal the deal.
“McLaren is in the best possible position to finish this off,” Norris said. “It’s all about staying focused and delivering tomorrow.”
Hulkenberg and Haas Shine but Face Tough Battle
Nico Hulkenberg’s stunning fourth-place qualifying performance for Haas is a highlight of the weekend. However, despite the German’s strong showing, Haas faces a steep challenge in its fight for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship. The team needs a six-point swing to leapfrog Alpine, but with Pierre Gasly starting sixth for Alpine, the task looks daunting.
Key Starting Grid Adjustments
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) (+2 positions)
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) (+3 positions)
- Alex Albon (Williams) (drops 2 positions after penalty)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) (drops 5 positions after penalty)
- Franco Colapinto (Williams) (remains last after penalty)
Final Race Stakes
With McLaren poised to take the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari needs a miracle. Even if Sainz can deliver a heroic result from third, Leclerc’s distant starting position severely limits Ferrari’s scoring potential. Meanwhile, the midfield battles remain intense, with Haas and Alpine locked in a tight fight for sixth place.
As the lights go out for the season finale, the reshuffled grid promises drama, strategy, and one last chance for teams and drivers to leave their mark on 2024. Will McLaren close the deal? Can Ferrari pull off an improbable upset? The answers await under the lights of Yas Marina.