On the thrilling second day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren captured the spotlight once again with Lando Norris clinching pole position, closely followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris achieved an impressive pole time of 1’22”595, which was nearly a full second faster than last year’s qualifying time of 1’23”595. Remarkably, this time was almost identical to the pre-event simulation time of 1’22”6, showcasing McLaren’s competitive edge.

In a fierce battle for grid positions, the second row was occupied by two Ferrari power units: Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg. Sainz clocked in at 1’22”824, a mere 20 thousandths of a second behind Piastri. Meanwhile, Hulkenberg performed admirably as well, securing a time of 1’22”886 in his Haas vehicle. The competition among these top drivers highlights the intense rivalry in Formula 1.

This achievement marks Norris’ ninth pole position in his career, with his first victory coming at Sochi in 2021. Remarkably, all but one of his poles have occurred this season, putting him neck and neck with Max Verstappen for the most poles in 2023. However, Verstappen is set to receive the 2024 Pole Position of the Year Award tomorrow, thanks to his additional three poles during Sprint Qualifying, while Norris has secured two.

The exhilarating moment of celebration for Norris was heightened when he received the Pirelli Pole Position Award from none other than Terry Crews. The former American football star has transitioned into a successful acting career, prominently known for his role as the detective squad lieutenant in the popular comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Crews is also recognized for his appearances in the Expendables film series and has been a vocal supporter of the #MeToo movement. In 2017, he was honored as one of the “silence breakers,” earning the title of “Person of the Year” from Time magazine.

Diving into the day’s on-track activities, the C3 tyre made its debut during the third free practice session. This particular compound, designated as the Hard tyre, saw usage from the two Racing Bulls drivers, with Yuki Tsunoda completing 9 laps and Liam Lawson managing 10 laps. The Aston Martin duo, consisting of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, also participated, performing their typical scrubbing-in procedures. The green team drivers similarly utilized a set of Medium tyres, while Lewis Hamilton and George Russell of Mercedes followed suit. Additionally, Carlos Sainz (13 laps) and Max Verstappen (9 laps) employed the C4 tyre, while the rest of the competitors predominantly ran the Soft compound, which was the only tyre utilized during qualifying.

Insights from Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Director of Motorsport, shed light on the fiercely competitive qualifying session. He noted, “This was arguably the closest qualifying of the year, with just 803 thousandths of a second separating all 20 drivers in Q1. The only tighter margin was seen in Zeltweg, though it was on a track that is 963 meters shorter.” He emphasized that the close contest propelled drivers to maximize the performance of the Soft tyres, which delivered exceptional results primarily on the first flying lap. Consistent track conditions throughout the qualifying session meant that grip levels played a crucial role, making the difference between new and used sets significant.

Looking ahead to the race strategy, Isola stated that a single-stop strategy, transitioning from Medium to Hard tyres, appears to be the fastest approach, with an optimal pit stop window between laps 18 and 24. However, those starting further back may consider extending their initial stint on the Hard tyres, planning to pit between laps 29 and 35. Nonetheless, several factors could prompt a switch to a two-stop strategy, including potential tire degradation, a neutralization, or drivers in traffic opting to pit early for a clear advantage with fresh tyres. This scenario unfolded last year when nearly all teams, except for the Racing Bulls, saved two sets of new Hards for strategic purposes.

In the season’s final Sprint race, the Medium tyre was the sole choice for all 23 participating drivers, with Kimi Antonelli not taking part. This yellow-banded tyre provided commendable grip and manageable thermal degradation, particularly on the rear tires. The race concluded with Josep Maria Marti from Campos Racing claiming victory, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto from Invicta Racing and Paul Aron from Hitech Pulse-Eight. Notably, Isack Hadjar from Campos Racing, a contender for the 2024 title, finished in sixth place. This result indicates that only Bortoleto or Hadjar can emerge as the champion, currently separated by a mere 5.5 points.

Pirelli PR