F1, Abu Dhabi: front row all McLaren, Carlos Sainz fights back. Great bitterness for Charles Leclerc

Different surprises in qualifying in Abu Dhabi

It will be Lando Norris’ McLaren to start from pole position in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last race of the season in the Formula 1 World Championship. The Briton will start alongside teammate Oscar Piastri: no small advantage for the Woking-based stable, in the running for the Constructors’ title with a Ferrari that instead è is forced to chase.

Carlos Sainz nonetheless managed to defend himself in qualifying, taking just on the last launched lap a decent third position and overtaking Haas’ surprising Nico Hulkenberg, who for a couple of minutes è was ahead of everyone in Q3. Fifth was world champion Max Verstappen, who after starting well in the last session did not manage to improve.

The other Ferrari, that of Charles Leclerc, will start instead from the last box of the grid on Sunday: the Monegasque (already sure of a ten-position penalty) è was in fact eliminated after Q2, following the cancellation of his best time for exceeding the limits of the track during his fast lap. Leclerc è therefore called for a great comeback if he wants to contribute to the fight for the Constructors’ World Championship.

So this is the starting grid: 1. Norris (McLaren); 2. Piastri (McLaren); 3. Sainz (Ferrari); 4. Hulkenberg (Haas); 5. Verstappen (Red Bull); 6. Gasly (Alpine); 7. Russell (Mercedes); 8. Alonso (Aston Martin); 9. Bottas (Kick Sauber); 10. Perez (Red Bull); 11. Tsunoda (Vcarb); 12. Lawson (Vcarb); 13. Stroll (Aston Martin); 14. Magnussen (Haas); 15. Albon (Williams); 16. Zhou (Kick Sauber); 17. Hamilton (Mercedes, victim of a problem during Q1, ed.); 18. Colapinto (Williams); 19. Doohan (Alpine); 20. Leclerc (Ferrari).