How McLaren or Ferrari may finish their F1 Constructors’ Championship dry spell

The 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship has been one in all, if not probably the most thrilling the game has seen for the previous 15 years. The forwards and backwards between McLaren and Ferrari has culminated in only a 21-point hole between the groups heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

As such, for the primary time since 2009 — when Brawn GP surprised the world — a staff not named Mercedes-Benz or Pink Bull will see their model etched onto the trophy come Sunday.

McLaren (who granted are Mercedes-powered) head into the night time race on the Yas Marina Circuit with a lead that was considerably eaten into only a week earlier in Qatar. Lando Norris’ final gasp and completely brutal 10-second stop-and-go penalty price the Woking-based outfit a possible second-place end. The controversial name might have price Norris a thirteenth podium of the season, however in an try and concentrate on the positives for McLaren, it did not less than promote teammate Oscar Piastri to 3rd.

In the meantime, the penalty could have felt like birthday and Christmas presents wrapped in a single for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz raking in one other 26 factors for the Scuderia. The Monegasque’s 18 factors additionally narrowed his hole to Norris within the race for runner-up within the driver standings to only eight — not the consequence both driver will doubtless be too phased about, however an accomplishment nonetheless.

Sadly for Ferrari, historical past favors the Mercedes-powered McLaren beneath the brilliant lights in Abu Dhabi. In 15 races on the circuit, a prancing horse-powered automobile has but to complete larger than second — a feat that they’ve achieved for 2 years on the trot.

All in all, Pink Bull has claimed seven wins on the monitor powered 3 times by Renault and 4 by Honda, whereas the Silver Arrows have six wins to their identify, and each McLaren-Mercedes and Lotus-Renault (now Alpine) have completed on the highest spot as soon as.

There are a number of methods through which McLaren may seal the deal in Abu Dhabi — the best being successful the race and thus guaranteeing the staff 25 factors. In the end, 24 factors or extra from Norris and Piastri can be sufficient to make sure they win no matter how Leclerc and Sainz carry out, as per F1.

In fact, if the wheels metaphorically fall off for Ferrari in Abu Dhabi, a title win might be finalized for McLaren with fewer factors. Conversely, ought to the McLarens have a weekend to neglect and never rating a single level, Ferrari would want to whole not less than 22 factors to be topped champions.

Ought to Norris and Piastri safe a championship for McLaren, it might mark the primary for the staff in both of their drivers’ lifetimes — with their most up-to-date having are available in 1998 due to Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen. Moreover, this potential ninth title would deliver them degree with Williams for the second most in F1 historical past.

A win for Ferrari can be their seventeenth so far and their first since 2008, secured by Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

If this wasn’t sufficient trivial trivia information for F1 followers — no matter whether or not McLaren or Ferrari wins the crown, the victor may even be solely the third staff to perform this feat since 2000 with out having additionally gained the driving force championship that very same season.