Piastri passes Norris on opening lap as Verstappen leads Abu Dhabi GP

Oscar Piastri executed a clean overtake on his McLaren teammate Lando Norris on the opening lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, moving into second place behind the leading Red Bull of Max Verstappen.

Why it matters:

Intra-team battles at the front of the grid are a rare spectacle and can define a race's early strategic narrative. Piastri's pass on Norris not only reshuffled the podium fight behind Verstappen but also highlighted the competitive tension within a top team fighting for crucial constructor championship points in the season finale.

The details:

• Max Verstappen converted his pole position into a clean lead off the line, controlling the pace from the front.
• Oscar Piastri, starting third, managed to get a better launch or positioning than Norris in second, allowing him to challenge and complete the pass for P2 before the first sequence of corners.
• The move was executed cleanly, with no contact between the McLaren teammates, preserving both cars for the long race ahead.
• This early order change immediately put Norris on the back foot, forcing him to reconsider his strategy to fight back against his teammate and any potential threats from behind.

What's next:

The opening lap order sets the stage for the strategic battle. Verstappen will look to manage the race from the front, while Piastri must defend from Norris and manage his tires. The early pass increases the likelihood of divergent strategies between the two McLaren drivers as the team navigates the best path to maximize its points haul in the final race of the season.