Formula 1

Lando Norris was once again the man to beat in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he surged to pole position ahead of his team mate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, teeing McLaren up perfectly to boost their constructors' title dreams.

Ferrari’s ideal scenario of having both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz starting at the front in Abu Dhabi fell apart as the Monegasque was knocked out in Q2, with a grid penalty sending him to the bottom of the order.

Campos Racing’s Josep María Martí put in an assured performance as he came through from fourth to win the Yas Marina Sprint Race, giving him his first Formula 2 victory.

McLaren go in search of their first constructors’ title since 1998 in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – with the team putting themselves in the box seat to achieve that feat as Lando Norris led Oscar Piastri in a McLaren one-two in qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton was left lamenting what might have been as he qualified a disappointing 18th for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after hitting a bollard in what is his final race weekend competing with Mercedes, with team boss Toto Wolff apologising for an "inexcusable" and "idiotic" mistake.

Lando Norris gave McLaren the best chance of securing their first constructors’ title since 1998 in qualifying for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, claiming his eighth pole of the year, as team mate Oscar Piastri completed a McLaren front row lock-out.

Lando Norris will start from pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Briton leading team mate Oscar Piastri to secure a McLaren front row lockout on a weekend where the squad are hoping to clinch a long-awaited constructors’ title.

Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in the final practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out his team mate Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton as McLaren continued their strong form at the season finale.

Live coverage of Saturday's qualifying session for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Oscar Piastri has topped the timesheets in third and final practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Australian leading team mate Lando Norris in a McLaren one-two as the squad aim to seal the constructors’ championship on Sunday.

For F1 drivers to have any chance of scoring points, podiums or championships, first they must make it to the chequered flag, making reliability a crucial factor that determines success in the sport.

Live coverage of Saturday's third practice session for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

A decision to “settle” Sergio Perez’s mind by offering him a two-year contact extension early in 2024 “didn’t work”, according to Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner, with the Mexican having endured a miserable run of form ever since that has left his future at the squad in doubt.

The drivers and teams report back on all the action from Friday practice at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from the Yas Marina Circuit.

Charles Leclerc experienced an “emotional” day as the action got under way at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Monegasque attempting to bounce back from food poisoning so that he could drive alongside his brother in Free Practice 1 – before then being hit with a grid penalty.

Nico Hulkenberg looked remarkably quick on the opening day of action at the Yas Marina Circuit for Haas, finishing FP2 with the third-fastest lap after putting his car in “a happy place”.

Lando Norris believes that McLaren’s strong pace during the opening day of action at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix “looks better than it is”, with the Briton anticipating a “tough fight” in Saturday’s qualifying.