Formula 1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix RECAP: Leaderboard and lap-by-lap updates as McLaren WIN constructors’ title after Lando Norris victory

We’re wrapping up our coverage now.

While we get back to work, McLaren will drink the night away – and who can blame them? They deserve that constructors’ title, their first since 1998.

Lando Norris was untouchable today and after cruising to victory, Zak Brown cheekily adopted Max Verstappen’s catchphrase: ‘Simply lovely’.

Indeed. We’ll catch you shortly.

Unsurprisingly, Zak Brown is having the time of his life.

Nico Rosberg, speaking on Sky Sports…

11. Alex Albon (Williams)

14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

16. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

DNF – Valtteri Bottas (Ssauber)

DNF – Franco Colapinto (Williams)

DNF – Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

The top three were joined by Zak Brown and champagne is flowing!

McLaren’s Lando Norris, speaking to Nico Rosberg…

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, speaking to Nico Rosberg…

The tears will be flowing in Mercedes’ garage.

Lewis Hamilton is thanking all of those who supported him during his historic stint with the team, including his engineer, Bono.

‘That was the drive of a world champion,’ said Toto Wolff after the race.

Wolff added: ‘If we can’t win, you should win.’

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, speaking to Nico Rosberg…

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)

2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

4. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

5. George Russell (Mercedes)

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

McLaren CEO Zak Brown, speaking to Sky Sports…

What a moment for Lewis Hamilton.

He was afforded the freedom of the home straight to perform some donuts after his final outing for Mercedes.

Hamilton also shared a touching moment with his W15.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, speaking over team radio…

McLaren’s Lando Norris, speaking over team radio…

Under real pressure, that was perfect from Lando Norris and McLaren.

What a display from the race winner.

Further back, Lewis Hamilton clinched fourth. He’ll absolutely take that in his final race for Mercedes before he joins Ferrari.

Lando Norris takes the chequered flag and with that, McLaren have officially wrapped up the constructors’ championship.

Cue wild celebrations and plenty of fireworks.

Carlos Sainz finished second and Charles Leclerc came home third.

Liam Lawson has been forced to retire. Smoke is billowing from his car.

In the Mercedes battle… Lewis Hamilton crept ahead of George Russell.

Here we go for the final lap.

Will Lewis Hamilton catch George Russell? It’s looking likely.

Out in front, Lando Norris is cruising to victory and that, of course, secures McLaren the constructors’ championship.

Norris has put on a clinic this evening.

Charles Leclerc was told that Carlos Sainz is 7.5s behind Lando Norris.

He responded with an expletive.

George Russell has been told to keep it clean with Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton’s scrap with George Russell will go down to the final lap. Will he get his team-mate and bow out on a high?

Oscar Piastri is back in the points.

It’s looking like another consolation point for McLaren. Their grip on the title is tightening with every passing second.

Lando Norris holds a 7.4s gap over Carlos Sainz and McLaren are barrelling toward a memorable constructors’ title.

Charles Leclerc is third and has gained 16 places this afternoon.

Carlos Sainz was concerned over a possible puncture but he’s been told everything looks OK. He won’t be pitting.

Lewis Hamilton is five seconds behind George Russell now.

Charles Leclerc is another six seconds further up the road, however, making a farewell podium for Hamilton very unlikely.

As for Ferrari, well, they look a little stuck.

Lewis Hamilton is continuing to eat into George Russell’s advantage and is closing in by almost a second a lap.

At this rate, we’re set for a dramatic showdown between those two Mercedes drivers. Will Russell do his team-mate one final favour?

That podium is slipping away but is still possible.

This constructors’ fight looks like a foregone conclusion to me.

Wil there be a late twist?

Lando Norris is having to navigate plenty of backmarkers and is facing dirty air, but he’s still in cruise control out in front.

We’re nearing the end now. Lando Norris’ gap over Carlos Sainz is 5.8s.

Charles Leclerc is third and George Russell is fourth, five seconds behind. Running in fifth is Lewis Hamilton.

With 10 laps to go, Charles Leclerc was told to refind his rhythm. His sarcastic response suggested he didn’t appreciate the message.

Ferrari simply have to do something – but what?

They’re running out of options and time.

That was almost nasty for Oscar Piastri. He snapped and slid behind Yuki Tsunoda but did very well to regain control and avoid a crash.

Max Verstappen is up to sixth place but is seven seconds behind Lewis Hamilton. These closing stages could be quiet for the world champion.

Lewis Hamilton has already taken a couple of seconds out of George Russell’s advantage, which now stands at 11 seconds.

Charles Leclerc is struggling with graining and Carlos Sainz appears to have pushed too hard, all of which plays into McLaren’s hands.

Lando Norris’ gap over Carlos Sainz is just under five seconds.

As it stands, McLaren will be crowned champions but that is entirely dependent on Norris cruising home to take the race win.

Is there anything Ferrari can do at this point?

Just 15 laps to go, folks.

Lewis Hamilton may well catch up to George Russell in that time. Max Verstappen is up to seventh after passing Nico Hulkenberg.

Lewis Hamilton is up to fifth, having begun the day 16th on the grid.

He asked how big the gap was to George Russell and was told it stands at 14 seconds. ‘You can do that,’ Toto Wolff told him over the radio.

Kevin Magnussen has delivered some barnstorming times and currently holds the fastest lap despite that collision with Valtteri Bottas.

He has also strapped on soft tyres, seemingly in a bid to keep hold of that fastest time. That would suit McLaren perfectly.

Lewis Hamilton took Nico Hulkenberg heading into Turn Six.

Lando Norris’ gap has ticked over 4.5s now. He’s cruising.

The top five is as follows: Norris, Sainz, Leclerc, Russell and Gasly.

Lewis Hamilton’s tyres are just five laps old and he’s closing the gap on Nico Hulkenberg, whose rubber is wearing away.

Is an unlikely podium on in his final Mercedes race?

Lando Norris has been faultless so far. That gap is now over 3.5s.

His McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri is up into 14th.

Max Verstappen got the better of Fernando Alonso on the last lap and now has Lewis Hamilton in his eights.

Let’s see who has the stronger pace at this point in the race.

Alonso has pitted for the final time and is back out in P12.

The gap between the top two is continuing to increase steadily, playing right into the hands of McLaren and a boisterous Zak Brown.

Carlos Sainz has dropped off the pace a little.

Lando Norris leads by 2.7s from Carlos Sainz while Charles Leclerc is in third. Remember, a race win decides the constructors’ championship.

Should Sainz get past Norris, Ferrari would clinch it.

It’s all to play for – but Norris is looking very comfortable.

Lewis Hamilton is into the pits. He’s onto the mediums.

Crucially, he is back out in front of Fernando Alonso in P7 and has plenty of room to attack. One final call for Hammer Time?

Oscar Piastri has now served his 10-second penalty after diving into the pits for the second time this afternoon.

He came back out on P15 and has it all to do to get back into the points.

This has been a busy ol’ day for race control so far. They’ll take a look at that incident between Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen.

Out in front, it’s a case of as you were. Lando Norris leads Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, against all the odds, is currently third.

Max Verstappen called the stewards ‘stupid idiots’ over team radio after serving that penalty. ‘Could we ask for 20 seconds?’ he said.

Further down the grid, Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen collided. The former is out of the race due to broken steering.

We could have a possible safety car here.

Max Verstappen has now served his time penalty for that collision with Oscar Piastri on the first lap.

He re-emerged with fresh hards and in 11th.

Lando Norris is out in front and two seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz. Max Verstappen is third but is still to serve his 10-second penalty.

Surely the world champion will pit soon?

Lewis Hamilton has just been told over the radio that P3 is possible. What a final race – and comeback – that would be for him.

What a shame. Franco Colapinto has been forced to retire.

He limped back to the pits after suffering from a power unit issue.

How long will it be before we see him back in Formula 1?

George Russell also pitted and he came back out behind Pierre Gasly. He then overtook the Alpine on his out lap, however.

Russell is now three seconds behind Charles Leclerc.

Wow. What a pitstop under pressure.

Lando Norris bombed into the pits, picked up fresh hard tyres, and then exited to maintain a two-second gap over Carlos Sainz.

That’s why the crews train so hard, for moments like that.

Carlos Sainz has pitted from second place.

He’s back out in third on hard tyres.

McLaren will surely respond to that with Lando Norris.

George Russell is still out and is adamant he can maintain his pace.

Liam Lawson, Sergio Perez’s likely successor at Red Bull, has complained that his tyres weren’t bolted on correctly after his stop.

Race control won’t like that. He’s now pitted.

Max Verstappen is running in fourth currently but still has his 10-second penalty to serve during his first stop.

Lewis Hamilton is fifth while Charles Leclerc is sixth.

Lando Norris is continuing to hold onto his lead over Carlos Sainz – he’s around 3.s in front. That poses the question – what do Ferrari do here?

Mercedes haven’t responded to Charles Leclerc stop in this intriguing strategy match-up. George Russell has stayed out for now.

Charles Leclerc has pitted as he looks to undercut George Russell.

It’s a fast stop and he’s reemerged on hard tyres.

This is absolutely looking like a one-stopper for the frontrunners.

The medium tyre is looking strong, which bodes well for Lewis Hamilton.

This race is delicately poised and has been a great watch.

In the constructors’ standings, Alpine are sitting pretty in sixth, above Haas. Pierre Gasly is eighth while rookie Jack Doohan is 11th.

Charles Leclerc is closing that gap on George Russell.

Lando Norris is content with his tyres out in front. Carlos Sainz is 4.2s adrift, making this a pretty comfortable evening for McLaren thus far.

Pierre Gasly did eventually get past Yuki Tsunoda to move into P8.

This is a superb drive from Charles Leclerc. He’s now within a second of George Russell as he eyes up that final podium spot.

Pierre Gasly is stuck a little in traffic further back and is ninth.

Max Verstappen says his tyres are ‘way too hot’ and that he ‘can’t brake’.

He’s running fifth at the moment but may need to pit soon.

We’re starting to see several pit stops now.

Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso were among those to have stopped and that proved to be a boost for Lewis Hamilton.

He’s been freed up in sixth, behind Max Verstappen.

McLaren are very happy with Lando Norris’ pace. It’s going well for them so far, despite Oscar Piastri sitting down in 14th.

‘I’ve got no pace, mate,’ Lewis Hamilton said over the radio. He’s now struggling to get past Liam Lawson, who occupies the final points spot.

Max Verstappen is now in seventh after powering past Fernando Alonso.

Lewis Hamilton did get past Liam Lawson into the chicane down the outside but the VCARB man hit back at Turn Eight.

Wheel-to-wheel action for the veteran in his final Mercedes race.

Further up the grid, Charles Leclerc is in fifth. Wow.

Lando Norris has a 3.3s gap over Carlos Sainz.

Pierre Gasly is holding on to third but George Russell has slowly but surely been closing the gap.

Lewis Hamilton is in 12th.

So, as it stands, McLaren will win the constructors’ championship. A race victory would be enough and Lando Norris is looking strong out in front.

Charles Leclerc, is up to sixth, however. It’s not over yet…

Max Verstappen is up to P8. He made light work of Kevin Magnussen.

Oscar Piastri does indeed have a 10-second penalty. It’s looking a long way back to the points now for the young Australian.

Oh dear. Oscar Piastri is also now under investigation for causing a collision with Franco Colapinto.

A 10-second penalty of his own could be coming soon.

At the front, Lando Norris is three seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz.

This is brilliant from Charles Leclerc. He’s up to seventh.

The Ferrari eased beyond Kevin Magnussen and Fernando Alonso is next in his sights. He’s around a second up the road.

Oscar Piastri was fuming with that move from Max Verstappen.

‘Move of a world champion, that,’ he quipped on team radio.

Pierre Gasly is doing brilliantly in third place, holding off George Russell.

Max Verstappen has a 10-second time penalty. He has been punished for causing a collision with Oscar Piastri on the first lap.

Valtteri Bottas also has the same penalty for hitting Sergio Perez.

Lando Norris holds a 2.5s gap over Carlos Sainz at the front.

Oscar Piastri has pitted for a change of tyres and not a new front wing.

George Russell immediately looked to bomb past Pierre Gasly at the end of the VSC but was forced to pull back a little.

During that VSC, Oscar Piastri made contact with Franco Colapinto.

Colapinto picked up a puncture and Piastri needs a new front wing.

Take a look at this top five. We have Lando Norris in the lead with Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly taking the other podium spots.

George Russell and Nico Hulkenberg are fourth and fifth.

We have a constructors’ standings fight on our hands.

My word. Is that it for Sergio Perez at Red Bull?

He’s out of his car in the final sector and we have a VSC.

Replays showed he was tagged by Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber.

Absolute chaos at the start of this race.

Sergio Perez also spun in a poor first lap for Red Bull. That allowed Charles Leclerc to gain another place. He’s up to eighth.

Lewis Hamilton is up to 12th.

Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri made contact at the first corner and span! Lando Norris leads the race.

Horror start for McLaren.

Verstappen is 14th and Piastri is last.

We’re off for the final formation lap of 2024.

Lando Norris has led the pack away.

The whole grid are on mediums apart from Lewis Hamilton, who has bolted on the hard tyre. He’ll be looking to go long.

Strap in, folks. This is your five-minute warning.

Will McLaren clinch the constructors’ title? Will Lewis Hamilton make it a fairytale farewell at Mercedes? We’ll find out very shortly.

Valtteri Bottas is giving nothing away ahead of his final race for Sauber.

This may very well be his final outing in Formula 1 after his team opted to partner Gabriel Bortoleto alongside Nico Hulkenberg next year.

But when asked by Martin Brundle whether this is his last hurrah at the top of motorsport, he replied: ‘I’m not done yet.’

For now, the mystery continues for the former Mercedes man…

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, speaking to Martin Brundle…

It’s almost time for the national anthem – the final one of the year.

Race control have already been called into action. Kevin Magnussen has been noted for a practice start infringement.

That one is being looked at.

Christian Horner was just questioned by Martin Brundle on what lies ahead for Sergio Perez and he was evasive, to say the least.

‘Let’s hope he finishes the season on a high note then we will sit down this week and reflect on the season,’ Horner said.

Perez is under contract for 2025 but all the signs are pointing to a brutal summer sacking. Liam Lawson is the favourite to take his place.

A deflated Toto Wolff apologised to Lewis Hamilton for “letting him down” after his shock Q1 exit in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

‘An idiotic mistake of not going earlier, inexcusable, inexcusable,’ Wolff said.

‘I have really been so down about what has happened and it maybe summarises the last races we’ve had with him, but this is the worst part of it because it was just idiotic.

‘Our most valuable racing driver ever, the most valuable racing driver of this sport gets out in Q1 because we make a mistake and that doesn’t ruin all the legacy we have with him but I can only say sorry to him.’

Nico Rosberg, speaking on Sky Sports…

The pit lane is now open and there are drivers out on track.

Plenty of cameras were focused on that Mercedes garage as Lewis Hamilton pulled out for the very last time.

It would be an absolute miracle if he finished on the podium but hey, stranger things have happened in this sport. Let’s see.

Lewis Hamilton ahead of his final Mercedes race…

At least SIX drivers will wave goodbye to their teams this afternoon.

Here’s who is either leaving or is on the move…

Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton

Haas – Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen

Sauber – Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu

There are also strong indications that this could be the final race for Sergio Perez at Red Bull after his torrid season.

Max Verstappen is sitting pretty on 429 points in the drivers’ championship so all eyes are instead on who will take second place.

Lando Norris is just eight points ahead of Charles Leclerc but does start on pole. His rival will start 19th and requires a truly special drive.

Oscar Piastri is fourth on 291 points after a brilliant season and Carlos Sainz, who bids farewell to Ferrari today, is 19 points behind him.

We could see some big movement on that table come this evening…

McLaren have a 21-point lead over Ferrari.

A victory for either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri would wrap up the constructors’ title for the Papaya, regardless of Ferrari’s results today.

Remember, Norris is in pole while Piastri lines up P2.

They will also take home the trophy…

Red Bull, meanwhile, are destined to finish a disappointing third.

Now that’s how you make an entrance.

Lewis Hamilton walked into the paddock clad in a bright red suit.

A nod to his soon-to-be employers, perhaps?

Hello, one and all. Thanks for joining us for the final race of this pulsating Formula 1 season. Let’s hope we bow out with a bang today.

The drivers’ championship has already been wrapped up, of course, but the constructors’ trophy is very much still up for grabs.

McLaren are the big favourites, especially after their front-row lockout with Lando Norris on pole, but you can’t rule Ferrari out.

This will be an emotional one with several drivers bidding farewell.

The biggest tear-jerker will be Lewis Hamilton’s goodbye. This is his very last outing for Mercedes before he officially joins Ferrari.

It’s lights out at the Yas Marina circuit at 1pm BST.