Martin Brundle on the Abu Dhabi GP: Assessing McLaren's rise from final to F1 champion and Lewis Hamilton's last flourish on Mercedes | F1 Information

McLaren, Ferrari, Purple Bull and Mercedes all placed on a fantastic present in 2024 with a number of wins every, ably chased tougher and tougher by the remainder of the sphere. However it was McLaren who received the Constructors' Championship in well-deserved and spectacular trend.

Not least as a result of McLaren is a buyer engine group with Mercedes powertrains, versus a totally useful group like Alpine, Mercedes and Ferrari.

It's straightforward to argue that McLaren has the perfect duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and each drivers have all the time been quick. Extra importantly, they didn't make many errors and barely broken their vehicles throughout this season, the longest in F1's 74-year historical past, with 24 races and 6 sprints unfold throughout the planet.

Which means that most of their power and funds cap has been targeted on efficiency and never repairs.

The group has additionally been pragmatic and cautious in bettering the automobile, ensuring they know precisely what they’ve and that it really works, in order that they don't get misplaced like others did. different groups.

This was crucial on these advanced vehicles that are approaching the efficiency ceiling within the third 12 months of moderately static technical rules.

How the Brown-Stella duo remodeled McLaren

McLaren's administration, led by CEO Zak Brown and group principal Andrea Stella, has carried out extraordinarily nicely.

Zak is a passionate, business-minded gasoline fanatic and Andrea is a relaxed, pragmatic particular person with a long-standing technical background and can be well-respected. Positively yin and yang working in unison there.

They each engender loyalty and a robust following and it has labored very nicely in galvanizing a formidable workforce and the fitting instruments and gear, all correctly funded, into one cohesive drive.

The McLaren group wanted it after a 26-year drought, however an equally spectacular Ferrari introduced them collectively.

And McLaren's homeowners and enterprise companions, significantly the majority-owner Bahrainis, have been extraordinarily supportive and affected person throughout these scary lean occasions, and are actually fortunately reaping the rewards.

They completed ninth within the constructors' championship in 2017 and reached final place as not too long ago as the beginning of the 2023 season.

The '50/50' danger Verstappen didn't have to take

McLaren wanted all its expertise and composure when, from the very first nook of the race, Max Verstappen sliced ​​his Purple Bull into second-placed Piastri on the within, they usually made contact, each shedding closely, Piastri falling backwards.

Verstappen claimed he was absolutely onside, however that was not the case. Perhaps Piastri might have left somewhat more room, however I doubt he noticed the late slot.

Ayrton Senna stated that when you don't take a niche you're not a racing driver, however Max actually didn't have to take that fifty/50 danger for both.

After receiving a 10-second penalty, an indignant Max within the automobile known as the stewards “silly idiots”, which is neither truthful nor sensible of him, however a calmer Max after the race went s apologize to Oscar and McLaren.

In the meantime, Norris from pole place constructed a cushty lead within the fray, Carlos Sainz grabbed second place from third on the grid, and Charles Leclerc within the sister Ferrari instantly jumped to the twelfth place after a penalized nineteenth on the grid, and in a comparatively brief time managed this eighth and exhibiting good tempo.

This championship battle was removed from over regardless of McLaren's entrance row lockout.

A annoyed and recovering Piastri would then make contact with the rear of Franco Colapinto's Williams to obtain his personal 10-second penalty. All because of that first nook incident.

All of McLaren's hopes subsequently rested on Norris's shoulders, given {that a} victory would seal the group title it doesn’t matter what Ferrari would possibly give you. And Norris was calm on the entrance, regularly gaining the benefit over his former teammate Sainz.

There was briefly a digital security automobile when Valtteri Bottas in his Sauber, on his seemingly swan tune, related with Sergio Perez in his Purple Bull and successfully knocked him out of what is also the final Sergio's race in F1.

Bottas would additionally later see his entrance brakes and take out the Haas of Kevin Magnussen, who was ending his last F1 race earlier than heading into the race at Le Mans.

Bottas, who additionally retired from the GP as a result of suspension injury, could be handed a five-place grid penalty for his subsequent F1 begin, which can or could not occur.

Sainz’s “parody” and Hamilton’s “classic” Mercedes finale

Norris's lead was such that the group might afford to attend a lap after Ferrari earlier than stopping within the pits, which occurred on laps 25 and 26 of the scheduled 58 laps.

It was so calm regardless of the stress and McLaren made a 2.0 second cease. Norris emerged with a two-second lead and regularly labored his manner again to win by just below six seconds.

Sainz was a formidable second as he’s now pressured to depart the group for brand new Lewis Hamilton, and Leclerc fought his method to a strong third place from the again row of the grid.

Sainz has the right angle and mindset about becoming a member of present midfield Williams, but it surely's a travesty that he received't be in a Mercedes or Purple Bull subsequent season.

Piastri completed tenth for one level on the earth championship. He held on to fourth place within the drivers' championship and McLaren received the constructors' championship by 666 to 652 factors.

Hamilton's fourth place within the race, spectacularly passing teammate George Russell on the skin of flip 9 on the ultimate lap, was one other excellent efficiency from sixteenth on the grid after a weird qualifying when he recovered a nook submit dislodged by Magnussen who was making an attempt to get out of his manner.

It was classic Hamilton and a becoming finish to his 84-win, six-world championship residency at Mercedes. Convey tears and emotion in all places for him and the group.

Verstappen would get better to complete sixth after serving his 10-second penalty, albeit 49 seconds behind Norris, in a race he has dominated in recent times. With Perez dropping out within the first spherical, it was a painful day for the Milton Keynes-based group.

Behind him, Pierre Gasly had one other sturdy race for Alpine because the group secured sixth place among the many constructors forward of Nico Hulkenberg who completed eighth for Haas and much more factors.

Fernando Alonso capped a depressing season with two factors in ninth for Aston Martin, lower than a lap behind. They're all hoping for dramatic enhancements over the following few months and a few magic mud from Adrian Newey sooner moderately than later.

Can Norris now do higher in 2025?

That is the form of efficiency from Norris that may win him a world championship, completely calm and reassured, he’s now extraordinarily snug forward of a Grand Prix and in the hunt for pole place.

He must discover a higher method to cope with Verstappen's aggressive driving, relentless pace and expertise, however Lando should begin as one of many favorites for the 2025 title.

However the driver and the group's rivals is not going to stand nonetheless, together with his teammate Piastri, and so he must deliver this type of completeness and “recreation” to every of the 24 races. The group additionally appears fairly able to giving him a quick, predictable and dependable automobile.

This must be a traditional season, however within the meantime, 2024 has additionally been most fulfilling.

Thanks on your firm once more this season and have an excellent break.

Watch all 24 race weekends of the 2025 Formulation 1 season reside on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP from March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime