During the first practice session for the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, Lando Norris impressed everyone by setting the fastest time. With a dominance reminiscent of the greatest moments on the circuit, the British driver outpaced his rival Max Verstappen by nearly four tenths. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri had a more complicated Friday, settling for 11th place after a challenging session.
An explosive start to the session
The first practice session took place in almost perfect conditions, ideal for the drivers. The combination of Medium and Soft tires allowed teams to test different strategies. It was young Ollie Bearman, with his Haas, who kicked things off with a lap time of 1:24.744 on C5 tires, quickly taking the lead in the operations. But this position would not be sustainable for long.
Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar also made his mark, setting a new benchmark time on the same tires. Behind them, Lando Norris, who wasted no time showing his teeth, became the fastest among those using Mediums. But beware: the best was yet to come!
Verstappen and Norris in a top duel
Midway through the session, the tension rose a notch. Exiting the pits on his Soft tires, Verstappen made a statement by clocking a lap time of 1:23.446, just ahead of Hülkenberg. The Dutchman was determined to keep his title within reach and assert his dominance. But he hadn’t counted on Norris’s talent! The latter then fired back with an impressive 1:23.082, placing a considerable gap between himself and Verstappen. It felt like a tennis match where one player completely overturns the other with a series of sharp forehands!
Piastri in search of balance
In the other McLaren, Oscar Piastri did not have the same luck. After missing the first session to let Pato O’Ward take the reins, the Australian struggled to find a good balance in his car. He finished the session in 11th position, 0.68 seconds behind his teammate. A situation reminiscent of a boxer desperately trying to regain his rhythm after a knock-down.
Highlights from the standings
In the end, here’s how the standings looked after this second session:
- 1. Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:23.083
- 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1:23.446
- 3. George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:23.462
- 4. Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:23.501
- 5. Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1:23.550
- 11. Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:23.763
It is clear that Norris and Verstappen are in top form, ready to battle for pole position during qualifying. The other drivers need to react quickly if they don’t want to find themselves like spectators at a legendary rock band’s concert that they missed the opening act of!
Looking ahead
As we head into qualifying, the pressure will be palpable for all drivers, but especially for Oscar Piastri, who must rise to the challenge and adjust his strategy to avoid trailing behind his teammate. For McLaren and Norris, the situation seems ideal to make history at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Stay tuned to follow this thrilling Formula 1 season and see how the teams will manage this intense competition on the iconic Abu Dhabi circuit! For more information on upcoming races, check out our motorsport section.
