Abu Dhabi Grand Prix FP1 Report
Lando Norris Sets Early Pace in Abu Dhabi
In the opening practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver, clocking a time of 1:24.485. This performance put him just 0.008 seconds ahead of championship rival Max Verstappen, highlighting the narrow margins in this tightly contested session.
Norris established his benchmark on soft tires after recovering from an early spin at Turn 2. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished third, only 0.016 seconds adrift, while Kimi Antonelli brought further competitiveness to the top ranks by securing fourth, 0.123 seconds off Norris’s pace.
The session, marked by exceptionally close times, took place in daylight, providing a different context from the cooler conditions expected during night qualifying and the race. “It raises expectations that the championship decider could be closely contested,” noted one analyst.
Driver Insights and Technical Concerns
Despite their impressive lap times, some drivers faced difficulties. Verstappen reported potential issues with his car, stating, “something might be broken… everywhere.” Norris also had a few mishaps, including a wide moment at Turn 1 while running on high fuel.
Leclerc expressed frustration about his car’s performance, saying, “The car just feels like it has zero grip. It’s unbelievable, I really don’t get it.”
In a competitive fifth, Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber demonstrated strong pace, while George Russell from Mercedes lagged slightly behind in sixth. Gabriel Bortoleto, also from Sauber, took seventh place, ahead of Oliver Bearman, who had a challenging session with ongoing hydraulic issues but still managed to secure the eighth fastest time.
Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten, with the session featuring several junior drivers making their mark. Notably, Ryo Hirakawa, substituting for Esteban Ocon in Haas, finished 11th among this cohort.
Overall Standings from FP1:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:24.485
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.008
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.016
- Kimi Antonelli (Red Bull) – +0.123
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – +0.144
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.244
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – +0.274
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +0.274
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.307
- Franco Colapinto (Williams) – +0.345
As teams prepare for the second practice session, the tightly packed field suggests that this weekend’s racing will be highly competitive.
