Norris leads a tight FP1 battle in Abu Dhabi season finale

Lando Norris has drawn first blood in Abu Dhabi, topping the opening practice session of the season finale at Yas Marina with a 1:24.485 — just 0.008s ahead of title rival Max Verstappen and 0.016s clear of Charles Leclerc. Under warm, dry daytime conditions (27.8°C air, 33.6°C track), the McLaren driver looked sharp on both medium and soft tyres, setting himself up strongly in a weekend where a podium would secure him the championship.

FP1 Recap: Norris Edges Verstappen in Tight Fight

The hour-long session was far from representative of qualifying or race conditions, with FP2 set to run at dusk in cooler temperatures. Nine rookie drivers took part as teams fulfilled their mandatory young driver outings, meaning several regulars — including Oscar Piastri — sat out.

Norris’ pace was the headline, but Verstappen was right there despite reporting something “broken” on his Red Bull. The Dutchman’s onboard looked fine, but he complained of issues “everywhere” as the RB bottomed out over bumps. Leclerc, third fastest, was less upbeat, lamenting “zero grip” and poor race simulation runs despite Ferrari’s strong history here.

Kimi Antonelli impressed again, going fourth ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, George Russell, and Gabriel Bortoleto. The top seven were covered by less than three tenths, hinting at a close fight once all championship contenders are on track together in FP2.

Key Moments and Incidents

Rookie resilience: All nine Friday drivers kept their cars intact. Mechanical gremlins were the only setbacks — Oliver Bearman suffered hydraulic and sensor issues, while Luke Browning had radio problems.
Leclerc spin: Charles Leclerc looped his Ferrari at Turn 5, sliding backwards into the runoff without damage.
Aston Martin traffic: Jak Crawford nearly collided with teammate Cian Shields after a miscommunication during a hot lap.
Tyre runs: O’Ward managed 14 laps on softs, Bortoleto 12 — useful data for Sunday’s strategy planning.
Track evolution: Early laps were dusty and slow, but times tumbled as rubber went down. Verstappen’s initial soft-tyre benchmark was quickly challenged by Norris.

Tyre and Pace Analysis

Teams had the C3, C4, and C5 compounds available, with no mandatory lap counts. Norris’ best came on softs after a strong medium run, while Verstappen’s fastest lap was also on the C5. Leclerc’s pace on softs was competitive over one lap but faded on longer runs.

Sector data showed:

S1: Verstappen quickest, with Russell and Antonelli close.
S2: Verstappen again led, Norris sixth.
S3: Hulkenberg topped, Norris second, Leclerc third.

Straight-line speed charts placed Verstappen and Hadjar at the top, with Norris mid-pack — suggesting McLaren’s setup is leaning towards cornering performance.

What It Means for the Championship

Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points, with Piastri 16 back. The Briton’s FP1 form is encouraging, but with Piastri missing the session and Verstappen still quick despite issues, the fight is far from settled. Ferrari’s struggles could remove them from the title equation, but Antonelli’s Mercedes pace hints at a possible spoiler role.

Looking Ahead to FP2

FP2 will be the most telling session of the weekend, run in race-like conditions. All regular drivers will return, including Piastri, and the first true comparison between the three title contenders will emerge. With the top three separated by hundredths in FP1, expect a tense and finely balanced battle under the lights.

Top 10 – FP1 Abu Dhabi 2025

Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:24.485
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.008
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.016
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.123
Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) +0.144
George Russell (Mercedes) +0.248
Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) +0.257
Oliver Bearman (Haas) +0.274
Carlos Sainz (Williams) +0.286
Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +0.370

The stage is set — FP2 will tell us if Norris’ early advantage is real or just a product of the unrepresentative conditions.