Oscar Piastri faced a challenging start to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, finishing FP2 outside the top ten after missing FP1. He acknowledged needing "a few tweaks overnight" to improve his McLaren MCL39. Meanwhile, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has indicated a potential shift in the team's 'no-orders' policy for the finale, hinting at strategic flexibility to maximize championship outcomes.
Lando Norris outpaced Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi FP2, demonstrating superior single-lap and race pace, sending a clear warning to the championship leader. Norris averaged 1:29.354 over nine laps, while Verstappen was three-tenths slower. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, however, struggled with consistency and pace, finishing outside the top ten. This strong performance by Norris signals McLaren's potential to challenge the front-runners in the season finale.
Max Verstappen avoided an investigation after a close call with Lando Norris in Abu Dhabi's second free practice, a situation stemming from communication confusion between Verstappen and his engineer. Though no penalty was issued, the incident underscores the tight championship battle as Verstappen leads Norris by 12 points heading into the final race, setting the stage for an intense weekend.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull's top advisor, voiced concerns over Max Verstappen's title prospects after Friday's practice sessions in Abu Dhabi. He believes Verstappen can no longer rely on luck, as McLaren's Lando Norris showed a clear pace advantage. Red Bull is struggling with understeer, particularly in sector three, and must find significant improvements to challenge for the championship on their own merit.
F1's FP2 session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is live, with regular drivers back on track under the lights. This critical practice session mimics race-day conditions, allowing teams to finalize setups and gather vital data for both qualifying and the Grand Prix. Drivers are focusing on long-run pace and one-lap performance at the Yas Marina Circuit to optimize their strategies for the weekend's decisive events.
Former F1 driver Adrian Sutil has been arrested in Germany on fraud and embezzlement suspicions, but through his lawyer, he strongly denies all allegations, claiming no financial damage occurred and that he himself is a victim of a "major property offence." His detention is attributed to his Monaco residency, not an admission of guilt, as Sutil cooperates fully to clear his name.
Lando Norris started the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend by topping Free Practice 1, just 0.008 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. Oscar Piastri will return for Free Practice 2, which is crucial as it runs in twilight conditions, more representative of qualifying and the race, making it a critical session for all teams to fine-tune their setups.
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.
Roman Stanek clinched pole position for the 2025 F2 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix feature race, with Jak Crawford a close second. Newly crowned champion Leonardo Fornaroli qualified third. The session also set the reverse grid for Saturday's sprint race, with Arvid Lindblad and Nikola Tsolov on the front row. Two drivers, Tsolov and Luke Browning, face post-session investigations for impeding and an unsafe release, respectively.
Former F1 driver Adrian Sutil has vehemently denied charges of "particularly serious" fraud and embezzlement following his arrest. Sutil's lawyer claims he is a victim of a targeted smear campaign, stating no third parties suffered economic damage and that the allegations stem from complex international contracts. He remains in custody while vowing to clear his name, amidst a legal battle that mirrors past controversies for the former Spyker, Force India, and Sauber driver.
Lando Norris narrowly topped Max Verstappen by just 0.008s in a thrilling Abu Dhabi FP1, setting the stage for a dramatic season finale. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was a close third, while several rookie drivers gained valuable track experience. Verstappen reported potential car issues, adding another layer of intrigue to the weekend's proceedings.
Lando Norris topped the opening practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, setting a 1m24.485s lap to narrowly beat championship rival Max Verstappen by just 0.008s. With Charles Leclerc only 0.016s behind, the session highlighted the intense competition expected in the season finale where Norris aims to secure his maiden F1 title. Nine rookies also participated, as the championship battle looks set to go down to the wire.
