Lando Norris completed a perfect start to Formula 1’s title-deciding weekend to outpace Max Verstappen in second practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Oscar Piastri finished only 11th fastest.
Norris, the 12-point championship leader, headed Verstappen in both of the season finale’s Friday sessions with the McLaren driver’s advantage in the second hour of running growing to an impressive 0.363s after a quickest lap of 1:20.083 on soft tyres.
The championship’s two top briefly came across each other on track early in the session at the first corner with Verstappen informed late over team radio that Norris was starting a flying lap behind him, having originally been told the Briton was not, and having to get out of the McLaren’s way at the last minute.
Piastri returned to his McLaren after missing the first session, as the team completed their mandatory rookie driver obligations for the season, but did not find the same groove as his rivals in the floodlit evening conditions of the Yas Marina Circuit.
The Australian lapped six tenths of a second slower than Norris to finish just outside the top 10 on a weekend when he, like Verstappen, requires a major turnaround to take the crown on Sunday.
Piastri, who went on to make a mistake on his second flying lap on softs at the chicane, trails Norris by 16 points.
George Russell was the top two’s nearest challenger in third, just under four tenths behind Norris, with the lead Mercedes just ahead of several surprise runners in the top 10 on F1 2025’s final Friday.
Oliver Bearman was fourth for Haas and appeared to be revelling in the pace of his car, saying over team radio after his quickest lap that it was “insane” how the VF-25 was “so good”.
Sauber’s drivers may also think the same about their own challenger after Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto finished fifth and sixth fastest 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 in order to clinch the title in Abu Dhabi.
Haas and Sauber are both Ferrari engine customers and both outpaced the Scuderia’s works team, whose difficult end to a disappointing season looks in danger of continuing on the evidence of the opening day in Abu Dhabi.
Charles Leclerc was eighth and Lewis Hamilton 14th, with both drivers dropping a lot of time on their best laps through the twisty final sector of the lap. Hamilton, though, in particular had appeared on for a much improved position before the final series of corners.
Isack Hadjar was seventh for Racing Bulls in the week his 2026 promotion to Red Bull was finally confirmed, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso ninth and Kimi Antonelli 10th for Mercedes.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Saturday December 6
10.15am: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 10.30am)*
12.10pm: F2 Sprint Race*
1.15pm: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying build-up*
2pm: ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
4pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday December 7
9.10am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP build-up*
1pm: THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX*
3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction*
4pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
The 2025 F1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
