Russell Edges Norris in Abu Dhabi FP3; Verstappen P3, Piastri P5
George Russell narrowly topped Lando Norris in the final practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen finishing third. This sets up a thrilling qualifying battle as Mercedes shows strong form, challenging McLaren and Red Bull. Ferrari faced a setback with Hamilton's crash, hinting at a competitive but unpredictable end to the season.
George Russell narrowly topped Lando Norris by just +0.004 seconds in the final free practice session of the 2025 season, setting a strong precedent for Mercedes ahead of qualifying. Max Verstappen finished third, while Oscar Piastri secured fifth. This session provided a crucial glimpse into the competitive landscape at the Yas Marina Circuit, with several teams showing impressive pace.
Why it matters:
Mercedes' strong showing in FP3, with Russell leading the pack, signifies their potential to challenge for pole position and race victory. A tight margin at the top, especially between Russell and Norris, suggests an intense battle for qualifying and the race. For Verstappen, securing third place indicates Red Bull remains a strong contender, while Piastri's fifth place highlights McLaren's consistent performance.
The Details:
- Russell's Pace: George Russell's final lap propelled him to the top of the timing sheets at the Yas Marina Circuit, finishing a mere four milliseconds ahead of Lando Norris. This performance underscores Mercedes' late-season form.
- Norris's Near Miss: Lando Norris initially looked set to top the session, demonstrating McLaren's strong package, but was ultimately edged out by Russell. His pace indicates McLaren will be a significant threat.
- Verstappen's Improvement: Max Verstappen found additional pace to secure third, showcasing Red Bull's ability to extract performance when it counts, despite not leading the session.
- Alonso's Surprise: Fernando Alonso delivered a strong final lap to sneak ahead of Oscar Piastri, placing fourth and demonstrating Aston Martin's capability.
- Haas's Strong Run: Haas continued their impressive pace in Abu Dhabi, with Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman taking P6 and P7, respectively, indicating a potential for points in the race.
- Ferrari's Struggles: Charles Leclerc managed only P8 for Ferrari, while teammate Lewis Hamilton's session ended prematurely with a crash, causing a red flag.
- Top Ten Finishers: Kimi Antonelli and Alex Albon rounded out the top ten, with Antonelli in ninth and Albon in tenth.
What's next:
With qualifying just around the corner, all eyes will be on how these practice times translate into grid positions. The narrow margins at the top suggest that even a tiny error could make a significant difference. Teams will now be fine-tuning their setups based on the FP3 data, aiming to maximize their performance for qualifying and the final race of the season. The battle for pole position is expected to be fierce, especially between Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull.