Verstappen Reports 'Mysterious' Defect in Abu Dhabi FP1 as Norris Leads
Lando Norris topped the first practice session in Abu Dhabi, closely followed by Max Verstappen who reported a mysterious car defect. Nico Hülkenberg delivered a surprise performance by placing fifth, just over a tenth behind the leader. Several rookies, including Pato O'Ward for McLaren, took part in the session as teams fulfilled mandatory practice requirements.
Lando Norris set the pace in the first free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but Max Verstappen was hot on his heels despite reporting a mysterious car defect. Amidst the front-runners, Nico Hülkenberg delivered a surprising performance.
The championship leader kicked off the Abu Dhabi finale with the fastest time: 1:24.485 on soft tires, a razor-thin 0.008 seconds ahead of title rival Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc was also just a blink behind in third.
Why it matters:
Despite Norris's strong start, Verstappen's reported car issues add an unexpected twist to the final race weekend, potentially impacting Red Bull's performance heading into qualifying and the race. Meanwhile, Hülkenberg's unexpected pace highlights the competitive depth in the midfield, especially in his 250th Grand Prix.
The Details:
- Verstappen's Scare: Max Verstappen experienced a worrying moment during the session, radioing his engineer with, "Something on the car broke – everywhere." The exact nature of the problem remains unknown, but it forced him to curtail his run.
- Hülkenberg's Surprise: Nico Hülkenberg secured an impressive fifth place, just over a tenth and a half behind Norris. This strong showing from the Sauber driver, who also looked competitive on long runs, marks a significant moment as he celebrates his 250th career race.
- Rookie Debuts: Third-placed Oscar Piastri sat out the session to allow Pato O'Ward to participate as part of the mandatory rookie practice rule. Many teams use the less relevant FP1 session in Abu Dhabi for these required outings. Other notable rookies included Paul Aron (Alpine), Luke Browning (Williams), Jak Crawford & Cian Shields (Aston Martin), Ryo Hirakawa (Haas), Ayumu Iwasa (Racing Bulls), Arthur Leclerc (Ferrari), and Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull).
What's next:
As the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend progresses, attention will be on Red Bull to diagnose and resolve Verstappen's reported car issue. Hülkenberg's strong FP1 performance will be closely watched to see if Sauber can maintain its unexpected pace through qualifying and the race. The remaining practice sessions will be crucial for all teams to fine-tune their setups for the season finale.