Norris Pole, Hamilton to Leave Mercedes After Abu Dhabi

Lando Norris secured pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking his eighth of the season and aiding McLaren in their pursuit of the constructors' title against Ferrari. Oscar Piastri qualified second, resulting in a McLaren front-row lockout. Charles Leclerc, who topped the first practice session, will incur a 10-place grid penalty due to a battery change, a significant setback for Ferrari as they trail McLaren by 21 points in the constructors' championship. Various young drivers participated in practice sessions to fulfill rookie running requirements. Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished third and fourth in practice, with Hamilton set to leave the team after this weekend.