Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Nico Hulkenberg started the race from seventh on Pirelli P Zero Yellow medium tires and advanced to fifth within the first lap, only to be passed by the recovering Ferrari of Charles Leclerc shortly after. On lap 13, Hulkenberg switched to White hard tires and subsequently lost positions to Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton as they made their recoveries. He held onto eighth place for the remaining 58 laps to earn points in his final race with the team, achieving the 10th points finish from the last 11 races of the season for the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.

Kevin Magnussen began in 14th position on medium tires, executing a spectacular start to rise to seventh place, passing multiple competitors along the back straight. He pitted on lap 12 for hard tires; despite a slower tire change, he remained in the fight for points until his second scheduled pit on lap 30. Magnussen came out on hard tires but was spun around at turn 7 by a locked-up Valtteri Bottas in a Sauber. He had to pit again, losing crucial time and re-entered the race on Red soft tires, making another pit stop on lap 56 for a fresh set of scrubbed softs. Remarkably, he recorded the fastest lap of the race on his final racing lap with MoneyGram Haas F1 Team – marking the third fastest lap in history for both the driver and the team.

The MoneyGram Haas F1 Team concluded the 2024 season ranked seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, accumulating 58 points – their second-best finish ever and second-highest total points tally.

At the front, Lando Norris from McLaren Racing claimed victory, securing the Constructors’ Championship for McLaren, with Scuderia Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finishing second and third respectively. 

Nico Hulkenberg:

“We’ve consistently been working hard, scoring points throughout the season from start to finish, so big credit to us – we’ve performed impressively compared to where we stood last year. That’s what makes me happiest and prouder, it was truly enjoyable being part of this journey and this team. I’ve thoroughly relished these past two years and I’m departing happily with a smile – heartfelt thanks to this team, it’s been by far the most enjoyable period of my Formula 1 career.”

Kevin Magnussen:

“The first lap was excellent, moving from P14 to P7, which was a positive aspect of the race. I experienced a slow pit stop, which impacted my race, and after the second pit stop, I collided with Bottas, making it definitely over for me. It wasn’t the conclusion I desired for the season, but I gave it my all, making a bold move on that first lap to gain seven positions. Since my return, we’ve worked hard to revitalize the team and steer it in the right direction, especially in the latter half of this year, and I take pride in that. As a child dreaming of Formula 1 25 years ago, achieving 10 years in the sport I desperately sought to be in has been a tremendous honor.”

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal:

“We recognized the need to seize the moment, and by the end of lap 1, things looked promising with Nico in P5 and Kevin making an incredible move from P14 to P7. Unfortunately, Kevin’s first pit stop was slower than expected, which was disappointing since our pit crew has performed excellently this year, but at that crucial moment, it placed him in traffic, severely affecting his race. As Kevin got stuck, we decided to pit him again, and on his out lap, Bottas locked up and compromised Kevin’s car. He had a stroke of bad luck, and I wanted a strong finale for Kevin since he is a valued member of our family, but finishing without scoring points was disappointing.

“On Nico’s end, he delivered a solid performance, though constantly facing traffic made things challenging. His execution of a one-stop strategy was commendable, and under regular circumstances, finishing P8 and scoring four points would be worth celebrating; he did an excellent job overall.

“Regarding our championship standing, it’s a bittersweet feeling, as we aimed for P6 but fell short at P7. Yet, if you had told us early in the season that we’d end at P7, we would have been grateful. This year has been remarkable, with everyone collaborating effectively across all departments. We have areas for improvement, which is part of the growth process, but we intend to return stronger next year. For now, let’s acknowledge the fantastic season we’ve had; I hope everyone feels proud of their accomplishments and enjoys this moment; I’m incredibly proud of each member of this team.”