Oscar Piastri outperformed Lando Norris as McLaren showcased their superior form during the final practice session before Qualifying at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Piastri finished nearly two-tenths of a second ahead of Norris, while Lewis Hamilton secured third place, trailing by 0.390 seconds in his last race weekend for Mercedes, highlighting McLaren’s significant lead.
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McLaren on the verge of clinching their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, led Ferrari by 21 points as the season concluded. A win on Sunday by either McLaren driver would confirm their championship victory.
Carlos Sainz was Ferrari’s fastest, placing fifth, trailing Max Verstappen and just ahead of Charles Leclerc, who finished ninth. Leclerc faced a 10-place grid penalty due to a new battery, suggesting a race-focused car setup.
Kevin Magnussen led most of the final practice but ended up eighth, with his Haas teammate Nico Hulkenberg ahead in seventh.
Haas trailed Alpine by five points in their contest for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.
In the first two sectors, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari were competitive with McLaren but lost significant time in the twisty final sector filled with corners.
Piastri excelled particularly in the final sector, visibly outpacing Norris, who was 0.193 seconds slower by the lap’s end.
Despite using older tyres, Hamilton, the only front-runner to improve on a second attempt with soft tyres, remains a close contender to the McLarens and aims to make a significant impact in his last Qualifying with Mercedes.
Abu Dhabi GP FP3 Results
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix FP3, 7 December 2024
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