Lando Norris made a perfect start to Formula 1’s title-deciding weekend, beating Max Verstappen in second practice of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Oscar Piastri finishing 11th fastest.
Norris, the 12-point championship leader, led Verstappen in both Friday sessions of the season finale, clocking an impressive 0.363s behind the McLaren driver in the second time after recording the fastest lap of 1 minute and 20.083 seconds on soft tires.
“He looked very serene out there, very calm.” Sky Sports F1 Martin Brundle. “The guy knows what he has to do.”
The two leaders of the championship met briefly on the track at the first corner early in the session, with Verstappen being informed late on over the team radio that Norris was starting a flying lap behind him, although the Briton had originally been told otherwise. He had to get out of McLaren’s way at the last minute.
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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen famously sabotaged title rival Lando Norris after receiving incorrect information from his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
Piatri returned to McLaren after missing the first session. The team fulfilled their mandatory rookie driver duties for the season but failed to find the same groove as their rivals on a single lap in the floodlit evening conditions at Yas Marina Circuit.
The Australian finished just outside the top 10, posting a lap six-tenths of a second slower than Norris in a weekend where, like Verstappen, he needs a big turnaround to take the crown on Sunday.
Piastri, who made a mistake on his second flying lap on the soft of the chicane, trails Norris by 16 points.
George Russell was the closest challenger in third, four tenths behind Norris, with the leader Mercedes just ahead of several surprise runners in the top ten on the final Friday of F1 2025.
Oliver Bearman was fourth for Haas and seemed to revel in his car’s speed, saying over team radio after completing the fastest lap that it was “crazy” that the VF-25 was “that good”.
The Sauber driver may feel the same about his challenger after Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto finished fifth and sixth respectively at the start of the Audi-owned team’s final race weekend under its original name.
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Craig Slater explains what Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris all need to do to secure victory in Abu Dhabi.
Haas and Sauber are both Ferrari engine customers and have surpassed the Scuderia’s works team. After a difficult end to a disappointing season, they are in danger of continuing the evidence of their opening day performance in Abu Dhabi.
Charles Leclerc finished 8th and Lewis Hamilton 14th, with both drivers losing a lot of time on their best laps through the twisty final stretch of the lap. But Hamilton was in a much improved position, especially before the final series of corners.
Isack Hadjar finished seventh for the Racing Bulls in the week Red Bull promotion for 2026 was finalized, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso ninth and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli 10th.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1 Abu Dhabi GP Schedule
Saturday, December 6
10:15 AM: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 3 (session starts at 10:30 AM)*
12:10 PM: F2 Sprint Race*
1.15pm: Preparing for Abu Dhabi GP qualifying*
2pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying*
4pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notes*
Sunday, December 7
9:10 AM: F2 Feature Race
11am: Grand Prix Sunday: Building up to the Abu Dhabi GP*
1pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix*
3pm: Checkered flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction*
4 p.m.: Ted’s Notes
*Applies to Sky Sports main event as well
The 2025 F1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports NOW – No Commitment, Cancel Anytime
