Lando Norris's 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concluded his season with a P7 finish for McLaren, a result that saw him drop from his strong P3 grid position amidst a chaotic race conclusion. At the Yas Marina Circuit on December 12, 2021, Norris completed all 58 laps, securing 6 points for McLaren Racing with a total race time of 1:31:16.545. His performance included setting a fastest lap of 1:26.762 on the final lap, lap 58, which placed him 4th overall in the fastest lap rankings for the event.
Starting from the second row, Norris initially maintained a competitive position, navigating the early phases of the race effectively. However, the unique circumstances of the season finale, particularly the late-race safety car and subsequent restart, reshuffled the order significantly. While Norris brought the McLaren home in the points, his teammate Daniel Ricciardo finished P12 and a lap down, highlighting the varied outcomes for the McLaren Racing contingent. The midfield battle was intense, with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. securing a P3 podium finish, a strong showing reminiscent of his consistent performances, such as his drive at the [Carlos Sainz at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix](/results/2021-bahrain-carlos-sainz). AlphaTauri also performed strongly, with Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly finishing P4 and P5 respectively, a testament to their car's pace in the closing stages, much like Gasly's outing at the [Pierre Gasly at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix](/results/2021-bahrain-pierre-gasly). Meanwhile, Alpine's Esteban Ocon finished P9, collecting 2 points, similar to how he managed to secure a points finish at the [Esteban Ocon at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix](/results/2021-bahrain-esteban-ocon). This race, a pivotal event in the [Formula 1 — official site](https://www.formula1.com/en) calendar, often presents unique strategic challenges that can drastically alter race outcomes. Understanding the intricacies of such events requires delving into detailed historical data, which resources like [Jolpica/Ergast — 2026 season data](https://api.jolpi.ca/ergast/f1/2026.json) provide for comprehensive analysis of past seasons. The 2021 season finale, in particular, added a dramatic chapter to the broader history of [Wikipedia: Formula One](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One) championships.
Verified race record · Ergast
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