Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have given McLaren a solid chance of ending the Formula 1 season on a high after locking the front two places on the grid for the final race of the season at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Norris, who lost out in the drivers’ championship to Max Verstappen in Las Vegas, has taken pole position in Abu Dhabi with a qualifying time of 1:22.595, while his team-mate, Piastri, will start alongside him after posting a time of 1:22.805 in qualifying.
The McLaren duo will start the race ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who was only .020 seconds behind Piastri. Verstappen and Pierre Gasly were also not far behind to take the fourth and fifth spot respectively on the starting grid.
Charles Leclerc was dealt with a 10-place penalty in a blow for Ferrari as the Frenchman will now start Sunday’s race from 19th spot, while Lewis Hamilton, in his final race with Mercedes before joining Ferrari next season, starts in 16th.