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• Leclerc: Ferrari 'gave it everything' in Abu Dhabi finale

  Charles Leclerc says Ferrari "gave it everything" as they narrowly lost out to McLaren in the Formula One Constructors' Championship on Sunday. 

  Leclerc climbed from 19th on the grid to finish third at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, behind Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz and McLaren's Lando Norris.

  Norris' victory sealed McLaren's first Constructors' Championship title since 1998, finishing the season 14 points ahead of Ferrari.

  Leclerc was left disappointed by the final outcome, but insisted he could have done no more.

  "I knew I had to be very aggressive, so on Lap 1, I took all the risks possible to gain as many places as possible to be in a good position for the rest of the race," he said.

  "Unfortunately, we were starting too far back to do anything better than what we did. I think we did the maximum. It hurts when a season is so close until the end.

  "We gave it our all, and we just came up short of our goal. It's a shame, but we gave it everything."

  Norris held on despite pressure from Sainz, who finished second in what was his final race for Ferrari before linking up with Alex Albon at Williams for the 2025 season. 

  "Obviously, a bit of a bittersweet feeling in the end," said Sainz. "P2, I think, was the maximum we could do today, given the pace of Lando in the McLaren.

  "I gave it everything, especially the first stint. It looked like we could hang onto them, then as soon as we put on the hard tyres, they just seemed to be one or two-tenths quicker per lap. They just got a bit out of reach.

  "From our side, I think we can proud of the effort and the championship that we put together. It’s been a tough year, but definitely a year that we need to be proud of, and hopefully be back here soon."

  Reflecting on his time with Ferrari, he added: "Obviously, it was an emotional in-lap with my engineer talking to me on the radio, but at the same time, very grateful to be part of this amazing team for four years.

  "I've had the opportunity to win my first races, achieve my first pole position. I've proven to myself and to everyone that I can be fighting for race wins and podiums if I have the right car."

• 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."