Lando Norris Sets the Pace in Abu Dhabi FP1 as Max Verstappen Battles “Broken” Car and Oscar Piastri Sits Out
The opening practice session for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has wrapped up, and it delivered an intriguing early glimpse into the tension building ahead of the decisive title showdown. Lando Norris kicked off the weekend with the fastest time in FP1, narrowly edging out championship rival Max Verstappen, while Oscar Piastri was absent from the session due to McLaren’s rookie driver commitment.
Norris, who is locked in a fierce three-way championship fight with Verstappen and teammate Piastri, posted a session-topping lap of 1:24.485, finishing a mere 0.008 seconds ahead of Verstappen. The closeness of the times promised a potentially dramatic weekend, but Verstappen’s FP1 was far from smooth. While he still managed to complete his run to the chequered flag, the Dutchman was heard over team radio complaining that his car felt “broken,” hinting at underlying issues affecting his late-session performance. Red Bull engineers appeared attentive but calm as they prepared to investigate the problem ahead of FP2.
The third major title contender, Oscar Piastri, did not take part in FP1. In accordance with the FIA’s mandatory rookie participation rule, McLaren handed his car to IndyCar star Pato O’Ward, marking the final rookie-allocated session of the season. O’Ward was one of nine rookie drivers participating in this FP1, creating an unusual dynamic where nearly half the field consisted of first-timers or young prospects. As expected, all nine rookies finished outside the top ten, though several impressed with consistent laps and measured sessions.
Behind the leading pair of Norris and Verstappen, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured the third-fastest time of 1:24.501, just a fraction behind the front two. However, Leclerc’s session ended with drama. The Monegasque spun at the hairpin in the latter stages and later voiced concerns to his team about having “zero grip,” suggesting Ferrari still has setup challenges to address before qualifying.
Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the standout performances of the session. Driving the lead Mercedes car, Antonelli placed fourth overall, continuing to build momentum as his highly anticipated F1 future edges closer. The young Italian showed strong confidence and adaptability on a track known for its technical demands.
Further down the order, Nico Hulkenberg secured fifth, proving again that Haas’ one-lap pace can still spring surprises. He was followed by George Russell in sixth, with Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto impressing in seventh place. Ferrari academy driver Oliver Bearman, who has been one of the most talked-about juniors of the season, finished eighth but endured a troubled outing. Bearman suffered technical issues early in the session, at one point limping back to the pits at very low speed. Although he briefly returned to the track, Haas ultimately retired his car due to a persistent sensor fault.
Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto completed the top ten. Colapinto’s performance was particularly notable as he ended the session as Alpine’s highest-placed driver and showed strong control throughout the hour.
The fastest rookie of the day was Ryo Hirakawa, who secured 11th place and delivered a clean, composed session for Alpine. Full-time Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar surprisingly ended outside the top ten, though his team emphasized that FP1 focused more on long-run data gathering than outright speed.
Just behind them, Paul Aron led O’Ward on the timesheets, with both completing important mileage for their respective teams. Another young driver in the spotlight was Arvid Lindblad, recently confirmed as a Racing Bulls driver for the 2026 season. Lindblad finished 15th and demonstrated strong form in one of his biggest career outings to date.
Arthur Leclerc, younger brother of Charles, ended the session in 16th, followed by Japanese standout Ayumu Iwasa, the reigning Super Formula champion. Luke Browning took 18th place, while Aston Martin fielded a full-rookie lineup with Jak Crawford and Cian Shields, who completed the timesheet in 19th and 20th positions.
As the teams prepare for the remaining practice sessions, the storylines are already building. Norris appears sharp and confident, Verstappen’s camp has technical worries to resolve, and Piastri will need to maximize FP2 after losing valuable early running. With the championship on the line, every lap this weekend carries weight—and FP1 has already set the stage for a dramatic finale at Yas Marina.
