Russell Edges Norris in Final Abu Dhabi Practice; Hamilton Crashes

George Russell topped the final practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, narrowly beating championship leader Lando Norris by just 0.004s. Title contender Max Verstappen finished third, while Lewis Hamilton's session ended with a crash, bringing out the red flags.

Why it matters:

This final practice offers a crucial glimpse into teams' performance ahead of qualifying, setting the stage for what promises to be a tense championship decider. Russell's unexpected pace and Hamilton's incident add layers of intrigue, hinting at potential shifts in the competitive order and strategic challenges for the frontrunners.

The Details:

• The session began slowly in the afternoon heat, with only a few cars initially on track, including the Aston Martins and Alpines.
• Pierre Gasly set the early benchmark on soft tires, but Lando Norris quickly lowered it by over a second with a 1:24.728 lap on C5 tires.
• Max Verstappen joined the session after 20 minutes, immediately taking P1 with a 1:24.245 lap, two-tenths clear of Hamilton.
• Hamilton's Crash: The seven-time champion spun and hit the barriers nose-first at Turn 9 after grounding his Ferrari on the kerbs, causing significant front-end damage and prompting a 13-minute red flag stoppage.
• Qualifying Simulations: After the restart, teams focused on qualifying runs. Oscar Piastri briefly topped the charts with a 1:23.593 before Norris went quicker at 1:23.338.
• Russell's Pace: George Russell then posted the fastest time of 1:23.334, just 0.004s ahead of Norris.
• Pit Lane Drama: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) was unsafely released into Yuki Tsunoda's (Red Bull Racing) path, damaging Antonelli's front wing and ending Tsunoda's session due to sidepod damage.
• Top 10 Finishers: Following Russell, Norris, and Verstappen were Fernando Alonso (P4), Oscar Piastri (P5), Esteban Ocon (P6), Oliver Bearman (P7), Charles Leclerc (P8), Kimi Antonelli (P9), and Alexander Albon (P10).

The Big Picture:

This final practice underscores the intense competition at the top, with minuscule margins separating the leading drivers. Mercedes' strong showing with Russell, despite Hamilton's setback, suggests they could be dark horses for qualifying. The incident involving Antonelli and Tsunoda also highlights the high-pressure environment in the pit lane as teams push the limits.

What's Next:

Attention now shifts to qualifying later today, where the grid for Sunday's race will be decided. With the championship still on the line for Norris and Verstappen, every thousandth of a second will count. Teams will be analyzing the data from this practice session to fine-tune their setups, hoping to find that crucial edge in the crucial qualifying rounds.