Qualifying under electric lights, the last dances and the debut ceremony - after twists and turns, a final result that can be considered ordinary. This is how the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the last qualifying of the 2024 Formula 1 season unfolded.
After the first "real" timed laps of Q1, Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen and Kevin Magnussen were in the lead, but due to the rapidly changing conditions, it was almost certain that this would not be the final order of the round. The world order quickly turned around, as Valtteri Bottas slipped between the two Scuderia Ferraris and finished second, qualifying for Q2, while Lewis Hamilton, who was suffering from a Mercedes elimination, was easily eliminated from the competition due to an extremely unfortunate incident. It happened that Kevin Magnussen hit a cone, unfortunately right under Hamilton's car, who was thus forced to brake, being vulnerable on his fast lap... In addition to him, the two Williams, Guanyu Zhou and Jack Doohan, who completed his first F1 qualifying, were forced to retire early from the competition.
In Q2, Verstappen and the two McLarens showed themselves at the top, then we witnessed a drama. Sainz, Verstappen and Nico Hülkenberg advanced first to Q3, but much more interesting was the list of the last qualifiers and those eliminated. Because, while Valtteri Bottas, who was also eliminated, managed to qualify Alfa Romeo in Q3 with a spectacular drive, Ferrari did not really know whether to laugh or cry, because Leclerc was out of the race due to an exit from the track, so he will start from last place in tomorrow's race. Alongside him, the two Visa RBs, Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen, did not continue.
Q3 started with an incredible save from Verstappen, funny, but the Dutchman managed to stay in the lead even with this lap - in which he had a lot of time left. Behind him, Norris and Sainz were on the list after the first attempts, and to everyone's surprise, Hülkenberg was at the wheel of Haas. In the end, Verstappen was unable to make a miracle, so the qualification was won by Lando Norris, followed by Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz, but the competition is very close, and an exciting season finale is expected. We can't wait!
