F1 Constructors' Championship Battle Intensifies Ahead Of Abu Dhabi Finale

Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive F1 Drivers’ title in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, attention has turned to the intense three-way battle for the Constructors’ championship. McLaren, which led the standings after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September, saw its advantage diminish due to Ferrari's consistent performances.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz delivered strong results in recent races. They achieved a one-two finish at the United States Grand Prix. This was followed by Sainz winning and Leclerc securing a podium spot in Mexico. In Las Vegas, they finished third and fourth, further closing the gap.

Lando Norris’s second place in Mexico was McLaren’s only podium in the last four races since his victory in Singapore. McLaren finished sixth and seventh in Las Vegas, with Mercedes overshadowing Ferrari's drivers. This left McLaren just 24 points ahead of Ferrari before heading into Qatar.

Before the Qatar Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz anticipated challenges for Ferrari at Lusail International Circuit due to its high-speed corners. Despite this, Leclerc managed a second-place finish while Sainz came sixth, outperforming McLaren's Norris and Piastri.

The results from Qatar reduced McLaren’s lead to just 21 points. As they approach the final race weekend in Abu Dhabi, McLaren is holding onto hopes of clinching their first Constructors’ title since 1998.

The competition remains fierce as both teams prepare for the season finale. The outcome will determine whether McLaren can maintain their slim lead or if Ferrari will overtake them for the championship.

With inputs from WAM