Norris Sends Clear Warning to Verstappen in Abu Dhabi FP2, Piastri Struggles
Lando Norris sent a clear warning to Max Verstappen at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix FP2, topping the session with a strong performance, signaling McLaren's potential threat. Verstappen faced an impeding incident with Norris, while Oscar Piastri struggled significantly, finishing nearly seven-tenths behind his teammate. Ferrari also had a challenging session, highlighting a dynamic weekend ahead for the 2025 title contenders.
Lando Norris delivered a strong performance in Free Practice 2 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap and signaling a potential challenge to Max Verstappen for the 2025 drivers' title. While Norris excelled, his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri found himself significantly off the pace.
Why it matters:
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a pivotal weekend, especially with the 2025 drivers' title fight in mind. Norris's pace in FP2 suggests McLaren could be a genuine threat to Red Bull, adding an exciting dimension to the upcoming season. Verstappen's noted impeding incident also hints at the intensity of the competition.
The details:
- Early Session Drama: In the opening minutes, Max Verstappen was noted for allegedly impeding Lando Norris into Turn 1. Norris voiced his frustration over the radio, but the matter was later resolved with no further action taken.
- Medium Tire Runs: Initially, drivers focused on medium tires. Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar briefly held top spots, with Norris emerging as the highest-placed driver on mediums in third position.
- Soft Tire Pace: Verstappen was the first of the frontrunners to switch to soft tires, setting a 1:23.446 lap time mid-session.
- Norris Dominates Softs: George Russell came close, just 16 thousandths behind Verstappen, but Norris then claimed the session lead with a commanding 1:23.083, nearly four-tenths clear of Verstappen.
- Piastri's Struggle: Oscar Piastri finished his first soft tire run in tenth, almost seven-tenths behind his teammate, indicating a significant struggle to find pace.
- Ferrari's Woes: Both Ferraris had a tough session. Charles Leclerc was eighth, visibly struggling with the SF-25, while Lewis Hamilton was as low as fourteenth.
- Long Run Analysis: During long runs on medium tires, Verstappen consistently lapped around 1:29.2. Norris matched this pace lap for lap initially, but in the closing stages, Norris improved, approaching the 1:28 barrier, while Verstappen's times drifted towards 1:30.000.
What's next:
Norris's impressive FP2 showing sets the stage for a compelling qualifying session and race, potentially signaling a tight battle for pole position. While Verstappen remains a formidable competitor, McLaren's strong performance, particularly Norris's pace, suggests they could be in a position to challenge. Piastri will need to find significant improvements to close the gap to his teammate and the frontrunners.