The provisional Formula One grid for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza has been announced by the FIA, hours after the conclusion of Saturday's qualifying.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc secured pole position for the team's home Grand Prix, but the starting grid for Sunday's race was complicated by a raft of penalties issued to a total of nine drivers.
That included championship leader Max Verstappen and Leclerc's team-mate Carlos Sainz, who put in the second and third-fastest laps in Q3, and there was initial confusion on how the penalties across the grid would be applied.
Verstappen, handed a five-place penalty, will start the race from seventh following a debate as to whether he would start from the second row in fourth, depending on whether that penalty was applied before or after others on the grid.
Confusion was not just limited to supporters, as the teams and drivers themselves were left in limbo – AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly taking to social media to ask for clarification, before it was announced he would start from fifth.
"Can someone tell me in which position I will start tomorrow's race?" he asked.
Following the raft of penalties issued, which comes after seven grid penalties were issued in the French Grand Prix, Mercedes' George Russell has suggested the procedure should be changed.
"We're trying to be more sustainable in F1, cutting down the parts and engines we use across a season," he said.
"With more and more races, we have three engines to take us through 23 races, running flat-out on a single engine.
"It's a huge amount. It's normal there are going to be failures along the way. I'm sure F1 will have a rethink along the way."
PROVISIONAL GRID
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
5. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri)
6. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
8. Nyck de Vries (Williams)
9. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo)
10. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
Hamilton delighted to finish on 'high' with Mercedes farewell in Abu Dhabi
Lewis Hamilton revelled in finishing "on a high" with Mercedes as the seven-time world champion bid an emotional farewell to his Formula One team.
Hamilton brought an end to his 12-year spell with Mercedes after a fourth-placed finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 39-year-old, in his final race before joining Ferrari next year, started 16th on the grid but produced an impressive performance to end what had been a challenging season.
"It has been probably the longest year of my life, knowing from the beginning I was leaving," Hamilton said.
"It's like a relationship that you've told whoever the counterpart is you're leaving but you're living together for a year. Lots of ups and downs but we finished on a high.
"We've definitely had ups and downs but what's come through is there has been real love."
Hamilton, who finished seventh in the drivers' championship, passed Mercedes team-mate George Russell before climbing out of his car to savour an emotional outing.
"Each moment I have known it was one of the last and it has been really clear and really hard to let go," Hamilton said.
"When I stopped the car. I wanted to embrace the moment. Representing Mercedes has been the greatest moment of my life.
"Just giving thanks, my own spirit for not giving up, everyone the power to have built that car. I am proud of everyone."
Hamilton triumphed in two races this year, his first wins since 2021, when he lost out on the world title in controversial circumstances to Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Ferrari awaits the F1 great, and soon-to-be colleague Charles Leclerc cannot wait to work with Hamilton, though is sad to lose team-mate Carlos Sainz.
"Lewis has achieved so much in the sport and it will be a big motivation," Leclerc said. "For now though, I'm thinking about the past year and the past years I've done with Carlos.
"We have had an amazing relationship. We have pushed each other. I really hoped we could finish these four years with the Constructors' Championship.
"Obviously now the disappointment is here and I will have four or five days to reset then think about next year."
McLaren chief Brown hails 'flawless' Norris after title-clinching Abu Dhabi triumph
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown lauded Lando Norris' "flawless" drive at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris led from pole on Sunday, and his won ensured McLaren triumphed in the Formula One Constructors' Championship for the first time since 1998.
McLaren needed Norris to keep his cool under pressure from Carlos Sainz, who finished second in his final race for Ferrari.
Sainz's team-mate Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, charged up from 19th to finish third, while Norris' fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri did well to finish in the points following a collision with Max Verstappen on the first corner.
Yet Norris' win was enough to see McLaren finish 14 points clear of Ferrari in the final standings.
"That was the worst two hours of my life, by far," Brown told Sky Sports.
"Lando drove brilliantly. Unfortunate what happened to Oscar at the start, but the team was flawless. They executed the pit stop great. I think I was the only one who was ready to have a heart attack for about two hours.
"That race, [Lando] carried us. To not make any mistakes, and we were worried about safety cars, I was worried about everything, and he drove flawlessly.
"So next, try to repeat the constructors' and get the drivers'. I'll let Oscar and Lando figure that one out."
Norris, who finished second in the driver standings behind Verstappen, declared on the team's radio that next season would be his year, and Brown sees no reason why the Briton cannot clinch the title in 2025.
"He's going to give it all he's got, and given the momentum he's on, I wouldn't bet against him," said Brown.
Speaking at the post-race presentation, Norris said: "It feels incredible. Not for myself but for the whole team. They have done an amazing job from where we were at the beginning.
"I'm so proud of everyone. It's been a lovely journey. To end the season like this is perfect.
"For us to win the Constructors' Championship after 26 years is pretty special. We are going to celebrate. This is a historic moment for the team. It's going to be a good night!"
Piastri, who like Norris was not even born when McLaren last won the Constructors' Championship, also had to deal with a time penalty after he clipped Franco Colapinto in a chaotic opening to the race.
The Australian drove brilliantly to finish in the top 10, though, and revealed that Verstappen subsequently apologised for the early collision that threatened to derail McLaren's hopes.
"It was a pretty miserable race but the biggest thing today was we clinched the championship," he said.
"It's a massive credit to everyone at McLaren for what they have achieved this year. Couldn't be prouder of them all.
"Very, very happy with the year's work. Nice to seal the deal.
"[Verstappen] came and apologised straight away and the stewards deemed it was a penalty.
"We go again next year. Obviously it was a tough race from then on, but again, we achieved our main target and that's what matters."
Norris victory seals Constructors' Championship for McLaren
Lando Norris won from pole at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to ensure McLaren won the Formula One Constructors' Championship.
McLaren knew a victory on Sunday would ensure their first title since 1998, and despite a dramatic start, Norris ultimately got the job done as he led through the entire 58 laps.
Norris held off the Ferrari's of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, with the latter charging up from 19th to claim a podium finish.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, capped off his Mercedes career - before he replaces Sainz at Ferrari - in style, flying up from 16th to finish fourth, ahead of his team-mate George Russell, who gave way to the seven-time world champion on the final lap.
A chaotic first corner caused plenty of concern for McLaren, as Oscar Piastri was clipped by four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen.
Piastri spun off the track and returned with plenty of ground to make up on the rest of the field, and matters were made even more complicated for the Australian when he received a penalty for colliding with Franco Colapinto.
Verstappen was penalised too, for causing that early clash with Piastri.
It was a poor day for Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez, who was potentially making his final appearance for Red Bull.
He bowed out after less than one lap, after a collision with Valtteri Bottas, who himself was forced to retire later on, potentially bringing the curtain down on his F1 career, with the Finn expected to be a reserve driver next season at Mercedes.
Yet despite the drama behind him, and the brilliant drive from Leclerc that applied even more pressure, Norris kept his cool at the front, never offering an opportunity to Sainz, who occupied second throughout.
"You all deserve this. Thank you so much. It's been a special year. Next year is going to be my year too," said Norris over the team radio after he crossed the finish line, with McLaren winning the title by 14 points.
Data Debrief: McLaren make their mark
Norris and Piastri were not even born when McLaren last won a team title, while the 26 years since that last victory is the longest such gap in F1 history. It is the first time since 2009 that a team other than Mercedes or Red Bull have won the championship.
Hamilton, meanwhile, drew the curtain down on his spectacular Mercedes career with one last hurrah.
During his time with the team, he set the records for the most wins (105), most pole positions (104) and podium finishes (202). However, he did finish a season outside of the top six for the first time in his career.
It was a great effort from Ferrari, who were always up against it this weekend, especially after Leclerc was handed a 10-place penalty for a battery change. He at least charged back to finish on the podium for the 13th time in 2024.
Top 10
1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers'
1. Max Verstappen - 437 (C)
2. Lando Norris - 374
3. Charles Leclerc - 356
Constructors'
1. McLaren - 666
2. Ferrari - 652
3. Red Bull - 589
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