The final qualifying session of the 2024 Formula 1 season brought chaos and heartbreak under the shimmering lights of Abu Dhabi. Drama unfolded as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc faced a devastating blow—set to start from the back of the grid after a 10-place penalty compounded his Q2 elimination due to a controversial track limits violation. The Scuderia star’s deleted lap time left fans and pundits reeling as he missed his chance to advance.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez dodged disaster in jaw-dropping fashion. Initially ruled out in Q1, the Red Bull veteran saw his lap reinstated by the stewards after a track limits review. With his season-long struggles well-documented—having failed to escape Q1 six times this year—Perez clawed his way to a respectable showing in the season finale, barely making it into Q2 with moments to spare.
However, the biggest shock of the night came as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton faced an unthinkable early exit. The Mercedes driver was eliminated in Q1, qualifying a disastrous 18th after struggling with the car’s balance on Yas Marina’s unforgiving circuit. The result marks one of the most disappointing weekends of his illustrious career, leaving fans stunned and speculating about the team’s performance woes.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024: Qualifying Breakdown
Q2 Eliminations
- Yuki Tsunoda (VCARB) – Solid effort but missed the cut.
- Liam Lawson (VCARB) – A commendable fight for the rookie.
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – Couldn’t find the pace in his final run.
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – A penalty and deleted lap dashed his hopes.
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas) – Barely edged into Q2 but lacked the speed to progress.
Q1 Eliminations
- Alex Albon (Williams) – Just missed the Q2 threshold.
- Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber) – Another tough outing for the Chinese driver.
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – The shocker of the session; a rare failure from the champion.
- Franco Colapinto (Williams) – Struggled throughout the session.
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) – Failed to find form in a tough qualifying round.
As the curtain rises on the season’s final race, all eyes are on Leclerc’s fight from the back, Hamilton’s bid for redemption, and whether Perez can end the year on a high. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix promises an electrifying conclusion to a rollercoaster 2024 season!
