After an exciting racing season, Components 1 has reached its closing race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 4 groups and 7 drivers sort out essentially the most grotesque of challenges. Some greater than others, to develop into race winners, with two drivers claiming their maiden race wins in 2024.
This season, followers have been spoilt with an unlimited array of motion and with one spherical left, there’s extra adrenaline-pumping left, primarily with the Constructors Championship nonetheless up for grabs. However not with Pink Bull. No. This time, the search for Championship glory now has two challengers. McLaren and Ferrari.
21 Factors Separate McLaren and Ferrari
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Earlier than Components 1 started the penultimate spherical of the season, McLaren was 24 factors forward of the scarlet crimson staff. Now, that benefit has come down solely by three factors: 21. The Papaya staff got here to Qatar in a bid to extend the hole or, extra ambitiously, take the crown. However none of these eventualities got here to fruition.
After a profitable 1-2 end within the Dash Race on Saturday, McLaren appeared on target to sealing their championship aspirations. Nevertheless, Qualifying raised alarm bells, as Max Verstappen and George Russell managed to out-qualify the McLaren drivers, lining up third and fourth.
Now, a brand new problem for McLaren will begin on Sunday.
30 Factors Benefit Diminishes to 21 Factors
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McLaren discovered themselves underneath the watchful eyes of the stewards when Lando Norris, on Lap 30, disobeyed the double yellow flag. The rationale was that Alex Albon‘s right-side mirror broke off his Williams and left him in the course of the monitor in Flip 1.
The Brit ignored the double yellow flags and continued to hurry previous the particles. The KICK Sauber driver of Valtteri Bottas, who did hit the particles, shattered the aspect mirror to items, deploying the protection automobile.
Race chief Max Verstappen raised the incident, adamant that Norris didn’t raise. Ultimately, Lando was hit with a 10-Second Cease/Go Penalty for failing to decelerate underneath the double yellow flags.
Norris served his penalty, placing the Papaya driver stone useless final. Now, it was all about harm limitations. Together with his team-mate Oscar Piastri staying in third, what can Norris do when he’s on the again foot?
Lap 45, Norris pits to serve his penalty and lurks behind the pack, 17 seconds from the following automobile. However this didn’t cease the younger Brit from catching the pack, ending again within the factors. tenth Place with the quickest, together with Piastri ending second, scored the staff 17 factors. On the identical time, Ferrari managed to attain 26 factors. Closing the hole right down to 21 factors.
102 Factors Left in Whole
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With 21 factors separating our newly topped champions, whether or not McLaren or Ferrari, there are nonetheless 102 factors obtainable from first to tenth, together with the quickest lap on the Yas Marina Circuit. As we all know, it received’t be McLaren and Ferrari squabbling for essentially the most factors obtainable, however the likes of Pink Bull and Mercedes will even be within the combine.
From Components 1’s earlier endeavours in Abu Dhabi, plainly Ferrari has outperformed the McLaren staff by 10-5. So, the ultimate questions stay: Will Ferrari proceed to outperform the Papaya staff? Or will McLaren claw one other onto their tally in opposition to Ferrari and for the Components 1 2024 Constructors Championship?
If you need to be taught extra information concerning the world of Components 1? Then why not take a look at “Qatar Grand Prix: The Desert Problem in Doha” or “53 Factors Behind! Is Pink Bull Out of the Championship?”
