Norris Dominates Friday Practice in Abu Dhabi, Cautiously Optimistic
Lando Norris topped both Friday practice sessions in Abu Dhabi, showing strong pace for McLaren. Despite a significant lead over Max Verstappen, Norris remains cautious, stating the field will likely close. Teammate Oscar Piastri struggled, missing FP1 and finishing P11 in FP2, indicating a need for overnight adjustments. McLaren's performance sets up an intriguing qualifying and race as they aim to cap off a strong season.
Lando Norris delivered an impressive performance in Friday's practice sessions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, topping both FP1 and FP2. However, despite setting the fastest times and opening a significant gap to championship leader Max Verstappen, Norris remains grounded, stating there's "nothing to smile about just yet" as the field is expected to close up over the weekend.
Why it matters:
McLaren's strong showing, particularly from Norris, suggests they could be a genuine threat to Red Bull and Ferrari in the final race of the season. A strong end to the year would carry significant momentum into the 2025 season and underline McLaren's substantial progress throughout the current campaign.
The details:
- Norris's Dominance: Lando Norris was quickest in both free practice sessions, demonstrating strong pace on both qualifying simulations and longer runs.
- He outpaced Max Verstappen by nearly four-tenths of a second on a single lap in FP2, indicating a promising one-lap performance.
- Despite this, Norris expressed caution, acknowledging that competitors typically close the gap as the weekend progresses.
- Piastri's Struggles: Teammate Oscar Piastri had a more challenging day.
- He missed FP1, giving up his seat to Pato O'Ward, which limited his track time and familiarity with the circuit.
- In FP2, Piastri finished P11, struggling to find pace on the soft tires and lagging behind both Norris and Verstappen in race simulations.
- Piastri indicated he would be making "a few tweaks overnight" to improve his car's setup for Saturday.
- Car Performance: Norris noted that while the car felt good, there's "still a little bit more to find" before he is completely satisfied with its balance and performance.
What's next:
The focus for McLaren will now shift to consolidating their performance in FP3 and optimizing their setup for qualifying. For Norris, maintaining his one-lap advantage will be crucial to secure a strong grid position, while Piastri will be aiming for significant improvements to join his teammate at the sharper end of the field. The competitive landscape is expected to tighten, making Saturday's sessions critical for the team's weekend prospects.