Lando Norris led a McLaren one-two in the second practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, showcasing the team’s competitive edge as Oscar Piastri finished closely behind him. This performance came in response to a critical setback for Ferrari, whose aspirations for the Constructors’ Championship were significantly hampered by a grid penalty imposed on Charles Leclerc.
During the first practice session held earlier that day, Ferrari faced a major challenge when Leclerc was penalized 10 places on the grid for taking on a new battery. This penalty has amplified the pressure on Ferrari, as they need to overturn a daunting 21-point deficit against McLaren to clinch the constructors’ title for the first time since 1998. As the weekend progressed, the situation intensively escalated, compelling Ferrari to strive for an “amazing recovery.”
In the evening session, which posed conditions reminiscent of those expected for Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race, Norris clocked a remarkable time of 1:23.517s, ending the session over two-tenths of a second ahead of teammate Piastri. Both drivers exhibited remarkable form, demonstrating strong long-run pace that could prove pivotal as the race approaches. Nico Hulkenberg of Haas surprisingly claimed third place, closely followed by Carlos Sainz from Ferrari, while Leclerc lagged behind in sixth position.
Lewis Hamilton, in what is billed as his final performance with Mercedes before transitioning to Ferrari next year, secured fifth place. Meanwhile, George Russell and Max Verstappen, two drivers often in the limelight due to their ongoing rivalry, faced difficulties during this session. Russell found himself in 13th position after an error during his soft-tyre run, and Verstappen expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of his Red Bull car, finishing down in 17th place.
Both Verstappen and Sainz, along with fellow competitor Piastri, were among six drivers who missed the first practice to allow their teams to fulfill the requisite young driver sessions for the season. With ongoing speculation surrounding Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull, he finished the session in 14th place, while his potential replacements, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, performed well for the sister team, RB, finishing 10th and 11th respectively.
While Norris has seen his championship hopes dashed by Verstappen in Las Vegas the previous month, he has redirected his focus towards aiding McLaren in their quest to secure the teams’ title, a feat that has eluded them for 26 years. A hallmark of McLaren’s successful campaign has been their ability to fine-tune their MCL38 car on Friday sessions, a strategy that played out effectively once again during the second practice.
Despite topping the timesheet, Norris remained realistic, stating that McLaren’s performance might have appeared more favorable than it truly was, signaling the need for continued improvement in long-run pace.
The Ferrari garage captured significant attention ahead of the first practice as Leclerc’s sibling, Arthur, debuted as his teammate, marking a historic moment as the first pair of brothers to represent a single team in an F1 session. However, the initial excitement quickly soured when a technical difficulty prevented Charles from getting on track, necessitating a replacement energy store to rectify.
Ultimately, while the brotherly duo managed to share the track later in the session, the mounting pressure on Ferrari became evident as their chances of overcoming McLaren’s distinct advantage continued to dwindle. Though Charles Leclerc initially topped the first practice session, the stark contrast of McLaren’s dominance in the more significant second practice fuels a lingering sense that their title aspirations are fading.
Abu Dhabi GP Practice Two Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:23.517 |
| 2) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.234 |
| 3) Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | +0.462 |
| 4) Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +0.582 |
| 5) Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.602 |
| 6) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.684 |
| 7) Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | +0.713 |
| 8) Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +0.718 |
| 9) Alex Albon | Williams | +0.752 |
| 10) Yuki Tsunoda | RB | +0.980 |
| 11) Liam Lawson | RB | +0.986 |
| 12) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.000 |
| 13) George Russell | Mercedes | +1.017 |
| 14) Sergio Perez | Red Bull | +1.038 |
| 15) Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | +1.040 |
| 16) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +1.057 |
| 17) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +1.081 |
| 18) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.169 |
| 19) Jack Doohan | Alpine | +1.444 |
| 20) Franco Colapinto | Williams | +1.748 |
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