Championship leader Lando Norris set the pace ahead of title rival Max Verstappen in first practice for the final race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Norris heads into Sunday’s 2025 final with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, but with a time of 1 minute 24.485 seconds, he finished just eight thousandths behind the Red Bull driver.
Norris’ McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who could still win the title from a position 16 points behind Norris, also missed the opening hour of track action, fulfilling his obligation to miss the second practice session of 2025 to allow the rookie to take part.
The results of the early afternoon session at Yas Marina Circuit are not necessarily representative of how the weekend’s competitive action will unfold, given that both qualifying and racing will take place under floodlights and in vastly different night conditions.
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Ferrari’s Arthur Leclerc sends a jibe at his younger brother Charles, who spun off the track during the first practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Piastri, who replaced Pato O’Ward, was one of nine drivers to miss the session to allow the rookie to compete.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third, just 0.016 seconds behind Norris, with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli a further 0.016 seconds behind in fourth.
Verstappen set his best time on the first lap on soft tyres, the fastest compound available, but after that it appeared he had no intention of pursuing further single-lap performance.
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Zak Brown admitted McLaren will carry out team orders “if it’s clear one side has a chance and the other doesn’t” at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi
Norris avoided his first attempt at a flying lap on soft tyres, after making a mistake on the rise of the second corner, and was slightly behind Verstappen on his first run.
He then allowed the tires to cool down before starting his next run and was able to slightly edge Verstappen.
Haas’s Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa’s 11th place meant he was the top finisher in a group of rookies that included British teenager Arvid Lindblad, who was given a seat in the 2026 Racing Bulls this week.
Lindblad, who was driving for Red Bull rather than the junior team in Friday’s session, missed teammate Verstappen’s time by seven tenths.
Sky Sports F1 Abu Dhabi GP Schedule
Friday, December 5th
12:45pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 2 (Session starts at 1pm)*
2:15pm: F1 Show*
Saturday, December 6th
10:15am: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice 3 (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 Qualification Notes*
Sunday, December 7th
9:10am: F2 Feature Race
11am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP Build-up*
1pm: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix*
3pm: Checkered flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction*
4pm: Ted’s Notes
*Also held at Sky Sports Main Event
The 2025 F1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
