The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix kicked off on a high-voltage note, with a dramatic first day. Practice races 1 & 2 took place at Yas Marina Circuit on Friday, and it was the favourite for the title, Lando Norris, who set the tone for the day.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice Race 1
Norris wasted little time stamping his authority in the first practice race. He clocked a 1:24.485, enough to edge out Max Verstappen by a razor-thin 0.008 seconds.
Title contender Oscar Piastri stayed out of the first practice race, with reserve McLaren driver Pato O’Ward getting seat time instead.
Norris has made a statement straight from the off. He wasn’t in this race just to build confidence, he was there to lead.
Practice Race 2
Norris again asserted dominance. This time his margin was more comfortable, achieving a 1:23.083 lap, putting him 0.363 seconds clear of Verstappen.
That gap represented a clear uptick in McLaren’s pace and confidence going into qualifying, and the finale on Sunday.
However, this session conjured up more drama. Verstappen had to quickly pull out of Norris’s path exiting Turn 1 after a radio miscommunication, prompting Norris to exclaim over team radio, “What’s this guy doing? I almost crashed.”
Stewards reviewed the incident but ultimately chose not to take further action.
What does it mean for the title fight
Norris arrives at qualifying not just as the F1 championship leader, but as the man with momentum. Holding a 12-point lead over Verstappen as the 2025 season finale looms, the British driver gave himself the best possible platform by topping both practice sessions.
Verstappen, while consistent in second, sounded cautious by stating that they “are still not quick enough”. As for Piastri, the challenge is sharper than ever. Even if he finds pace overnight, he’ll need near-flawless qualifying and likely some outside luck if he’s to get the better of Norris and Verstappen.
With qualifying set for Saturday and the grand finale on Sunday, the tension is building up. But today, under the Yas Marina lights, McLaren delivered the first punch.
