Piastri Faces Disadvantage as O'Ward Replaces Him in Abu Dhabi FP1
Oscar Piastri will miss the opening practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as McLaren fulfills a mandatory rookie driver slot with Pato O'Ward. This puts Piastri at a disadvantage in his championship bid, forcing him to quickly adapt to the Yas Marina circuit in later sessions, while his rivals gain crucial track time.
Oscar Piastri will miss the crucial opening practice session for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with McLaren confirming IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward will take his place. This mandatory rookie driver handover puts Piastri at a slight disadvantage as he chases the championship.
Why it matters:
Piastri's absence from FP1 at Yas Marina is significant because it's typically the only daylight session, contrasting with qualifying and the race held at twilight. This limits his track time in conditions more representative of the main events, forcing him to adapt quicker than his rivals in a high-stakes title fight.
The details:
- Mandatory Rookie Session: Piastri's MCL39 must accommodate a rookie driver for a second time this season, a regulation he had yet to fulfill for his car.
- Pato O'Ward Steps In: IndyCar star Pato O'Ward will drive Piastri's car during FP1, marking his fifth FP1 session and third at the Abu Dhabi circuit.
- Team-mate Comparison: Lando Norris's car has already completed its two mandatory rookie sessions with Alex Dunne at the Austrian and Italian Grands Prix.
- Common Practice: It's not uncommon for teams to save their second mandatory rookie session for the Abu Dhabi finale, despite the differing track conditions between FP1 and the main events. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes/Ferrari) and Yuki Tsunoda (RB/Red Bull) are also set to hand over their cars for FP1.
- Championship Scenario: Piastri enters the weekend 16 points behind Norris and 4 points behind Max Verstappen. To win the title, Piastri must finish in the top two.
- If Piastri wins: He needs Norris to finish sixth or lower, with Verstappen's result becoming irrelevant.
- If Piastri finishes second: He needs Norris to finish tenth or lower, and Verstappen to finish fourth or lower.
What's next:
While losing FP1 track time is less than ideal, Piastri's championship hopes hinge on his performance in qualifying and the race itself. He'll need to quickly get up to speed in FP2 and FP3 to compensate for the lost session, aiming to maximize his potential in a straightforward, yet challenging, path to the title.