Lando Norris Tops Power Rankings After Stunning Abu Dhabi Victory

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With Lando Norris taking center stage in the season finale, the 2024 Formula 1 season concluded in Abu Dhabi on a strong note. The McLaren driver completed an incredible weekend by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a flawless demonstration of talent and accuracy, giving McLaren their first constructors' title since 1998.

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In addition to being a personal triumph, Norris' win was a turning point for McLaren, which won the coveted constructors' title following an exciting final battle. The squad had a great winter break since Norris' pole position and flawless race performance made sure there were no surprises when Ferrari was scheduled to compete.

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Charles Leclerc’s Comeback Steals the Show

While Norris was reveling in a dominant weekend, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc showed precisely why he is considered one of the sport's brightest talents. Starting from 19th on the grid after incurring a 10-place power unit penalty, Leclerc had the mountain to climb. He put on an awe-inspiring performance and recovered extremely quickly through the field for a well-deserved P3. His race was that of resilience-a reminder to all of his exceptional driving skill.

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Carlos Sainz’s Emotional Ferrari Farewell

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix served as Carlos Sainz's melancholy send-off to Ferrari. Sainz led Ferrari's assault throughout the race and qualified in P3, putting up a strong performance to finish in the points after a season filled with ups and downs. Despite neither winning or helping Ferrari win the constructors' championship, Sainz's efforts were crucial to his team's victory.

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Pierre Gasly and the Underrated Heroics

Pierre Gasly was another driver who made an impression. The Frenchman maintained his form with a great showing in Abu Dhabi following an exceptional season. Gasly took advantage of the first turn turmoil and ran in P3 for a large portion of the race, starting from P5 and seizing every chance. Gasly's consistency enabled his team finish in P6 in the constructors' championship, which was a suitable way to cap off a successful year, even if they dropped to P7 following pit stops.

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Lewis Hamilton’s Resilient Farewell to Mercedes

There was some tension during Lewis Hamilton's final weekend of racing with Mercedes. The seven-time world champion had a lot of work ahead of him after an unexpected early elimination from qualifying. Hamilton put up a fierce fight, dropping from 16th to P4 on the starting grid, as one could expect from a legend. Mercedes struggled against McLaren and Ferrari's quicker vehicles, but his racecraft was demonstrated by his last-lap move of teammate George Russell.

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Nico Hulkenberg’s Final Stint with Haas

Nico Hulkenberg's stay at Haas ended after a strong showing at Yas Marina. Haas failed to pip Alpine for P6 in the constructors' battle, but Hulkenberg gave it a good shot to qualify in P7 and finish in P8. He departs Haas with his reputation intact as he heads to the new Sauber/Audi outfit.

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Fernando Alonso’s Determined Performance

Despite having a difficult season, Fernando Alonso had a strong finish to 2024. The two-time world champion made the most of his Aston Martin's performance, finishing P9 in the race and earning a berth in the pole-position shootout. Alonso, who now anticipates a "little reset" and a possible comeback in 2025, put out a heroic effort.

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Oscar Piastri's Challenging Race Weekend

Oscar Piastri had a weekend of highs and lows. After qualifying in a strong position alongside teammate Norris, Piastri’s race took a turn for the worse when Max Verstappen’s early collision forced him into a spin. A subsequent penalty added more frustration to the McLaren driver’s race, but Piastri’s recovery drive still earned him a point-scoring 10th place finish.

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Alex Albon’s Encouraging Performance for Williams

In Abu Dhabi, Alex Albon of Williams showed potential by moving up from 18th place to contend for points. It was a much-needed lift for Williams, who finished their season on a more positive note going into the off-season, even though he was unable to hold off Piastri in the final laps.

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A Few Notable Misses

Abu Dhabi unfortunately signaled the end of certain drivers' campaigns in a less favorable way. In what would have been his final Formula One race, Kevin Magnussen displayed bursts of speed before being destroyed in a collision with Valtteri Bottas. Even though he won the world championship for the second time in a row, Max Verstappen did not perform well in the season finale, losing out on a podium finish and barely making it into the top spots in the Power Rankings.

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As the 2024 season wraps up, the final Power Rankings reflect a mix of triumphs and disappointments, but all eyes now turn to the 2025 season, where new stories and challenges await.

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Key Performers:

1. Lando Norris – Pole, Victory, and Championship Glory
2. Charles Leclerc – Stunning Comeback Drive
3. Carlos Sainz – Emotional Ferrari Farewell
4. Pierre Gasly – Consistency and Strong Results
5. Lewis Hamilton – Resilient Recovery Drive

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