ABU DHABI: McLaren’s hopes of a first constructors’ title since 1998 suffered a blow after a dramatic start to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Max Verstappen was aggressive at lights out, the fourth-placed Red Bull off the grid sneaking up the inside of Oscar Piastri, who started on the front row alongside his McLaren teammate and pole sitter Lando Norris.
Four-time world champion Verstappen’s Red Bull made contact with Piastri’s car at turn one, forcing the Australian into the pits for repairs to leave him trailing the race.