Jolyon Palmer outlines the one way McLaren lose the constructors’ title after front-row lockout in Abu Dhabi

McLaren have put themselves in the best possible position to win their first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Woking-based outfit have shown exceptional pace in Abu Dhabi all weekend as they look to end the 2024 season on a high after missing out on the drivers’ title to Max Verstappen.

McLaren did just that in qualifying as Lando Norris secured his eighth pole position of the season with teammate Oscar Piastri locking out the front row in second.

Giedo van der Garde tipped McLaren to throw away the constructors’ title in their battle with Ferrari, but with this result, it seems almost a certainty that the Woking-based outfit will win their first title since 1998.

However, Jolyon Palmer has pointed out one way it could all go horribly wrong for McLaren.

Jolyon Palmer says the McLaren drivers wiping each other out in Abu Dhabi is the only way they lose the constructors’ title

McLaren lead Ferrari by 21 points heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With Norris and Piastri one and two for the race, the duo just need to hold station to seal the deal.

Carlos Sainz lines up behind the McLarens in third and the Spaniard will be looking to apply as much pressure as possible to keep Ferrari’s hopes of winning the title alive.

As fans have seen this season, the McLaren drivers have shown they are willing to fight one other on track, sometimes getting a little too close for comfort.

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McLaren boss Zak Brown will want to avoid any drama on track in the race, and Palmer stressed that the only way they lose the constructors’ is if Norris and Piastri collide with one another.

“Unless the McLarens wipe each other out at the start or something tomorrow, they have this in the bag you would have thought,” he said via BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

Ferrari look out of contention as Charles Leclerc starts last in Abu Dhabi

It was already going to be an uphill struggle for Ferrari to close the gap to McLaren, but the Maranello squad have it all to do after a disastrous session for Charles Leclerc.

The Monegasque driver was hit with a 10-place grid penalty after he was forced to change his battery in FP1.

Things got even worse for Leclerc in qualifying as he was knocked out in Q2 in 14th, leaving him last for the race on Sunday.

Andrea Stella thinks Leclerc will recover from his penalty in the race, but it will take a herculean effort for the 27-year-old to fight through the field and give Ferrari a chance to beat McLaren. The Maranello outfit will be hoping Palmer’s comment will be a jinx for their rivals in Abu Dhabi.