Norris Dominates Opening Day of Abu Dhabi GP, Tops FP2

Lando Norris continued his dominant performance on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap in Free Practice 2. His strong showing positions McLaren well for the season finale, hinting at a competitive weekend ahead at Yas Marina Circuit.

Why it matters:

Norris's consistent pace across both practice sessions, particularly in FP2 which is most representative of qualifying and race conditions, underscores McLaren's potential to challenge for pole position and a strong race result. For the season finale, strong performances here are crucial for team morale and securing final championship standings.

The details:

• Norris clocked a 1m 23.083s lap time, placing him 0.363 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen.
• Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, secured the second-fastest time, indicating Red Bull's continued presence at the sharp end.
• George Russell of Mercedes rounded out the top three, though nearly four-tenths behind Norris's blistering pace.
• Oscar Piastri, Norris's McLaren teammate, returned to the track in FP2 after missing FP1. However, an error on his soft tire hot lap relegated him to 11th position.
• The FP2 session is particularly significant at Yas Marina as it takes place under similar evening conditions to qualifying and the race, making the data gathered more relevant.

What's next:

With Norris showing exceptional pace, all eyes will be on McLaren to see if they can maintain this form into Saturday's qualifying session. Red Bull and Mercedes will undoubtedly be working overnight to close the gap, promising an exciting battle for pole position as the 2025 F1 season draws to a close.