McLaren wins the constructors' championship in Abu Dhabi

Lando Norris closed the Formula 1 season with a commanding victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, securing McLaren’s first constructors' championship since 1998. The British driver controlled the race from start to finish, followed by Carlos Sainz, who secured second place for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc completed the podium after recovering from the back of the grid.

From the start, Norris capitalized on his pole position to take the lead without issue. The incidents began immediately when Max Verstappen attempted an aggressive move on Oscar Piastri at the first corner. The contact between the two left Verstappen relegated and Piastri at the back of the pack, allowing Sainz to reclaim second place.

The first lap also saw Sergio Pérez retire after a collision with Valtteri Bottas. The virtual safety car, activated to remove the Mexican’s car, disrupted initial strategies, with 10-second penalties handed to Verstappen and Bottas for their respective actions.

With Sainz and Norris setting the pace, the battle for the win revolved around tire management and mandatory pit stops. Norris extended his first stint until lap 26, responding to Sainz’s switch to hard tires one lap earlier. Although the Spaniard briefly closed the gap, Norris regained control by consistently clocking laps in the low 1:28s, gradually extending his lead to over five seconds.

Leclerc was one of the day’s standout performers, overcoming multiple challenges to secure third place. After pitting on lap 20, the Monegasque executed several crucial overtakes, including moves on Pierre Gasly and George Russell, who could not match the frontrunners' pace. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, in his final race with Mercedes, engaged in an intra-team duel with Russell, ultimately passing him on the last lap to finish fourth.

The weekend also marked the final Formula 1 races for Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen. Both drivers bid farewell under difficult circumstances: Bottas retired after a crash, while Magnussen managed to set the fastest lap in his final stint with Haas, though he finished outside the points.