There were many ‘lasts’ on the starting grid for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
It was the last time either Sauber driver would start a Formula 1 grand prix for the foreseeable future. The same was also true for Kevin Magnussen and, it seems increasingly likely, Sergio Perez as well.
Franco Colapinto seems likely to bag a return after his last appearance for Williams before making way for Carlos Sainz Jnr. But the driver who triggered the Ferrari man’s move was always going to be one of the night’s biggest stories.
Lewis Hamilton, in his 245th and final start as a Mercedes driver, lined up only 16th – and that was two places better than he’d qualified, thanks to others’ penalties. The stage was set for a recovery performance worthy of one of the sport’s greats, but could the same driver who’d struggled so terribly in Qatar deliver it?
Hamilton had enjoyed tremendous success since leaving McLaren 12 years earlier. His former team, meanwhile, had been in the doldrums for much of the time, and only now were poised to clinch the constructors’ championship for the first time in a generation – providing they could see off Ferrari.
McLaren held the whip hand at the start. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had annexed the front row ahead of Sainz. The second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc languished even further back than Hamilton – 19th, thanks to a penalty for a battery change and a deleted lap in Q2.
World champion Max Verstappen looked well placed to capitalise on the championship-minded drivers ahead of him from fourth, though he only moved up to that position thanks to Nico Hulkenberg’s penalty from qualifying. When the five red lights went out, however, Verstappen proved far too eager to assert his advantage.
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The RB20 made another of its faultless getaways from a low-grip starting position. Verstappen was immediately alongside Sainz and fancied a look on the inside of Piastri. But this was too much – he understeered wide at the exit and thumped the McLaren, sending both into a spin.
Further on the opening lap, Valtteri Bottas knocked Sergio Perez sideways at turn seven. The Red Bull suffered terminal damage, ending Perez’s race and possibly his F1 career. The Virtual Safety Car was briefly summoned but once the race resumed they were flat out to the final…
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