During the second practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched the top spot, showcasing impressive performance. He clocked a time of 1m 23.083s, placing him ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell.
Norris Leads the Charge in Abu Dhabi FP2
Norris’s time was 0.363 seconds faster than the reigning champion, Verstappen, who managed a best of 1m 23.446s. Russell followed closely behind, just 0.016 seconds adrift of Verstappen.
Practice Session Overview
This session ran for one hour and attracted regular racers after a more diverse field participated in the earlier FP1. Norris’s McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, faced some challenges, finishing in 11th place after struggling to find pace.
Key Incidents
One notable moment involved Verstappen needing to quickly avoid Norris at Turn 1, leading to a near collision. The incident arose from miscommunication with his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. Although Norris expressed frustration over the radio, stewards opted not to impose any penalties.
Lap Times and Performance
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 1m 23.083s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 1m 23.446s
- George Russell (Mercedes): 1m 23.462s
- Ollie Bearman (Haas): 1m 24.167s
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls): 1m 24.167s
Following initial qualifying-style laps, drivers shifted their focus to longer runs, gathering essential data for the main race. Norris’s impressive timing secured him the top spot at the end of the session.
Performance Insights
Bearman finished fourth, an excellent result for Haas, while both Sauber drivers and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari also posted competitive times. Young talents like Hadjar showed promising speed, rounding up a strong field of contenders.
As teams prepare for the final practice session scheduled for tomorrow, they’ll analyze data and adjust car setups. This approach aims to maximize performance ahead of the race, set for Sunday evening.
