Lando Norris takes pole position for Abu Dhabi sprint race – as McLaren look to seal first constructors’ championship in 26 years

Lando Norris took pole position for the sprint race in Abu Dhabi to bolster McLaren’s hopes of winning the constructors’ championship for the first time this century.

The Briton revived himself after losing out on the title to Max Verstappen in Las Vegas last week by pipping Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.063sec. 

The second McLaren, of Oscar Piastri, was third quickest.

Norris’s pole was a minor riposte to Verstappen mocking his failed title challenge.

McLaren will take the constructors’ crown for the first time since 1998 if they outscore Ferrari by 21 points in Qatar and don’t concede nine points to Red Bull.

The Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were fourth and fifth fastest.

The Briton pipped Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.063sec having finished sixth in Las Vegas

Norris revived himself after losing out on the title to Max Verstappen in Las Vegas last week

Verstappen was sixth fastest while Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton will start the 19-lap dash from seventh.

Norris, who finished sixth in Vegas, said: ‘It is so quick around here and it feels like the quickest of the year. It feels like you are hanging on.

‘It was a great qualifying, especially to bounce back from where we were in Vegas. We came here to get pole and we did that, so job done.

‘I want to win tomorrow. Our target is a one-two finish, and we want to maximise points for the constructors’ championship, but I am not expecting an easy race. Mercedes will be quick and Ferrari will be up there, too.’