Piastri to Miss Crucial First Practice in Abu Dhabi Title Decider

Oscar Piastri will sit out the all-important first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, making way for Patricio O'Ward. This decision comes as McLaren enters the final race of the season with both Piastri and Lando Norris in contention for the Drivers' Championship, a title they haven't secured since 2008.

Why it matters:

McLaren has already clinched the Constructors' Championship, and securing the Drivers' title would mark their first double championship since 1998. With both Norris and Piastri in the hunt, every session, especially the initial one, is crucial for fine-tuning the car and understanding track conditions. Missing FP1 could put Piastri at a slight disadvantage as he aims to close a 16-point gap to Norris.

The Details:

• Driver Lineup Change: Patricio O'Ward will take Piastri's seat for Free Practice 1. This isn't O'Ward's first F1 outing, having previously participated in FP1 sessions for McLaren in Mexico City. Lando Norris also sat out FP1 in Austria and Mexico City for junior drivers.
• Piastri's FP1 Absence: This marks the second consecutive year Piastri has missed the opening practice session in Abu Dhabi, having also sat out for Ryo Hirakawa last year.
• Championship Stakes: Norris currently leads the Drivers' Championship by 12 points over Max Verstappen and 16 points over teammate Piastri.
• Piastri's Mindset: Despite the FP1 setback, Piastri expressed confidence, stating, "Qatar was one of my strongest weekends in F1. The aim for Abu Dhabi is to replicate that and do everything I can for the race win. I will give it my all and make sure I leave no points on the table in this final race."
• Team Outlook: McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella highlighted the team's pride in their achievements and their commitment to learning from recent setbacks. "We will do everything possible to put our drivers in the best position to win the title, continuing to pursue our way of approaching racing, with the aim of bringing back to McLaren a double world championship that has been missing for 27 years."

What's next:

Free Practice 1 for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is scheduled for Friday, December 5, at 8:30 pm AEDT. All eyes will be on McLaren as they aim to convert their strong season into a double championship, overcoming any potential disruptions from Piastri's missed session.