Russell Tops Abu Dhabi FP3 as Title Rivals Set for Close Qualifying Battle
George Russell unexpectedly topped the final practice session in Abu Dhabi, clocking a 1:23.334, narrowly beating championship leader Lando Norris. The session was marked by an incredibly tight field, a red flag for Lewis Hamilton's crash, and incidents involving Yuki Tsunoda, all setting the stage for a dramatic and closely contested qualifying session.
George Russell claimed the fastest time in the final practice session for the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, setting a 1:23.334 in the closing stages. This performance prevented championship leader Lando Norris from securing a clean sweep of the practice sessions, signaling a tight qualifying ahead.
Why it matters:
With the championship on the line, the final practice session offered a crucial glimpse into the teams' and drivers' form. Russell's unexpected pace at the top and the incredibly tight margins across the field suggest that qualifying will be a high-stakes affair, potentially shaping the grid for a decisive championship race. The session also highlighted potential vulnerabilities for leading contenders like Hamilton and Tsunoda, adding further intrigue.
The details:
- Russell's Breakthrough: Mercedes driver George Russell posted a 1:23.334 late in the session, snatching the top spot from Lando Norris.
- Norris's Near Miss: Championship leader Lando Norris, despite a strong final sector, finished just 0.004s behind Russell. His teammate Oscar Piastri ended up fifth, 0.259s off the pace, but showed improved comfort with his McLaren.
- Verstappen and Alonso Close In: Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso both improved late, pushing Piastri down the order, with Verstappen showing strong pace on soft tires.
- Hamilton's Crash: Lewis Hamilton spun and crashed at Turn 9, rotating 360 degrees and hitting the barriers front-first. He reported something 'buckled' on the car, ending his session early while he was running in fourth.
- Tsunoda's Incidents: Yuki Tsunoda was involved in two separate incidents: a near-collision with Norris due to being slow on the racing line, and later being struck by Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes exiting the garage. These will be investigated by the stewards.
- Tight Field: An incredibly close field saw only 1.3 seconds separating the fastest from the slowest car, with the top 17 drivers all within one second of Russell's leading time.
- Haas Impresses: Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman secured impressive sixth and seventh positions, respectively.
- Unsafe Release: Alex Albon of Williams was noted for an unsafe release during the busy period after the red flag.
What's next:
The warm and hazy conditions are set to continue into the evening, providing a consistent backdrop for the critical qualifying session. The close gaps seen in FP3 indicate that pole position will be fiercely contested, with every tenth of a second making a significant difference. The incidents involving Hamilton and Tsunoda, particularly the latter, will also be under scrutiny by the stewards, potentially leading to grid penalties that could further shuffle the starting order for Sunday's race.