Oscar Piastri on top as McLaren set the pace in Abu Dhabi
McLaren continued to set the pace with another one-two in the final practice session of the 2024 Formula One season in Abu Dhabi.
Ferrari Sport News
Charles Leclerc On Top But Hit With Grid Penalty At Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice
Charles Leclerc topped the times for Ferrari ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, in his final race weekend with Mercedes, in Friday's opening practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Leclerc's speed was a fillip for Ferrari as they seek to overturn a 21-point deficit behind championship leaders McLaren in Sunday's race, but they suffered a heavy setback as Leclerc required a new battery pack on his car which brought with it a 10-place grid penalty. The Monegasque clocked a best lap in one minute and 24.321 seconds to outpace Norris by 0.221 at the Yas Marina Circuit with Hamilton adrift by four-tenths ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly.
Ferrari's F1 title hopes hit by Charles Leclerc grid penalty
Ferrari suffered a severe setback to their hopes of winning the Formula One constructors' title for the first time since 2008 when Charles Leclerc was handed a 10 place grid penalty on Friday.
Charles Leclerc Describes Lewis Hamilton's Arrival At Ferrari As 'Crazy'
Charles Leclerc says having Lewis Hamilton in the other half of the Ferrari garage next season "is going to be crazy". Seven-time world champion Hamilton is preparing to end his glittering 12-year spell with Mercedes at this weekend's season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, before joining Leclerc at the 'Prancing horse' stable. "With Lewis it's going to be crazy because he is such a talented driver," Leclerc told AFP at the Yas Marina circuit on Thursday. "He's the most successful driver in Formula One and so it's going to be a great challenge to measure myself against him in the same car.
Max Verstappen 'Surprised And Disappointed' By George Russell
Max Verstappen made clear his feelings about George Russell's actions leading to him being stripped of pole position when he spoke out after winning Sunday's chaotic Qatar Grand Prix. The newly-crowned four-time world champion said he felt "surprised and disappointed" by the Mercedes driver's attempt to see him penalised after an incident during qualifying at the Losail International Circuit on Saturday. "I was surprised and disappointed in the stewards' room," said Verstappen. "I have been in there many times, of course, but I have never before seen someone trying to screw someone else over that hard."
George Russell On Pole As Max Verstappen Given Grid Penalty For Qatar Grand Prix
Newly-crowned four-time world champion Max Verstappen has been stripped of pole position at the Qatar Grand Prix for impeding Mercedes driver George Russell in qualifying on Saturday. Red Bull's Verstappen was given a one-place grid penalty for blocking Russell with the British driver starting on pole instead of the Dutchman. Hours after Verstappen claimed his first pole position for five months a one-place penalty was imposed for driving unnecessarily slowly, a manouevre that pushed Russell into the gravel. The Red Bull driver clocked the fastest lap in one minute and 20.520 seconds and Russell was originally second for Mercedes just 0.055 seconds adrift.
Charles Leclerc fastest in practice for Qatar Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc saw off Lando Norris to finish fastest in practice for the Qatar Grand Prix.
George Russell On Pole Position At Las Vegas Grand Prix, Max Verstappen Ahead Of Lando Norris
George Russell of Mercedes took pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Friday while title-chasing Max Verstappen was fifth as the Dutchman closes in on a fourth successive world championship. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was second ahead of Pierre Gasly of Alpine with Red Bull's Verstappen finishing one spot ahead of title rival Lando Norris of McLaren who was sixth. Verstappen, who won the Las Vegas race in 2023, leads Norris by 62 points with three races remaining and needs simply to finish ahead of him on Saturday night to become only the sixth man to win four world titles.