Lando Norris secured a magnificent pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix amid tough competition from his team mate Oscar Piastri, leaving McLaren well and truly on their way to sealing their first constructors’ title since 1998. Here are the best facts and stats from an exhiliarating qualifying at the Yas Marina Circuit…
• Norris secured his eighth pole position of the season, which is the highest of any McLaren driver in the 21st century – he has surpassed Lewis Hamilton’s seven poles in 2008 and 2012.
• He has tied Max Verstappen’s eight pole positions in 2024.
READ MORE: McLaren drivers aiming to beat Ferrari to constructors’ glory ‘in style’ as Norris leads front row lock-out at Yas Marina
• With Piastri qualifying in P2, McLaren have achieved their third front row lock-out of the year.
• The Woking outfit have ended the 11-year streak of Mercedes and Red Bull pole positions at this track.
• The pole-sitter has gone on to win in the last 11 races in Abu Dhabi, which is the longest current streak at any F1 circuit and only one short of the all-time record set in Barcelona between 2001 and 2010.
• Piastri has started on the front row five times this season without a pole position.
• The Aussie has also been outqualified by Norris on 20 occasions.
