Esteban Ocon leaves Alpine

Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg has been handed with a three-place grid drop for failing to follow the race director’s instructions by overtaking two cars on the pit exit road. The German had qualified in P4, setting him up for a strong start to the 58-lap race at the Yas Marina Circuit, but he will now be demoted to seventh on the grid behind Pierre Gasly and George Russell.

Lando Norris took pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren put themselves in a perfect position to clinch their first constructors’ title since 1998. Norris headed Piastri by 0.209 seconds at the end of a gripping, topsy-turvy qualifying session at the final race of the season. Carlos Sainz took third place for Ferrari, who trail McLaren by 21 points heading into Sunday’s race with a maximum of 44 available.