Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Lando Norris Dominates FP2
In the lead-up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lando Norris showcased an impressive performance during the second practice session, setting the fastest time ahead of his main title rival, Max Verstappen. While Norris was making headlines with his exceptional lap, his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, struggled to find his rhythm and finished the session outside the top 10.
Lando Norris Shines with Fastest Lap
As the sun began to set over the Yas Marina Circuit, Lando Norris took to the track with purpose. It only took him one flying lap on soft tires to clock a stunning time of 1 minute and 23.083 seconds, a benchmark that significantly surpassed Verstappen’s efforts by 0.363 seconds. The cooler temperatures of the evening appeared to suit the McLaren, allowing Norris to extract maximum performance from his car.
The bulk of Norris’s advantage came from the final sector of the circuit, which is characterized by its tight, 90-degree corners. In this section, he was almost 0.3 seconds quicker than Verstappen. Additionally, Norris found a comfortable margin in the first sector, gaining over 0.15 seconds while Verstappen expressed concerns about excessive bouncing through the high-speed Turn 3.
Verstappen’s Performance and Challenges
Despite finishing second, Max Verstappen had moments of competitiveness, particularly in the middle sector, where he managed to gain some time back from Norris. This sector includes the challenging hairpin at Turn 5 and the subsequent two straights, where Verstappen was able to slightly close the gap, gaining almost 0.1 seconds. However, the overall performance of the Red Bull car seemed to fall short of Norris’s McLaren in the cooler evening conditions.
Oscar Piastri’s Struggles
While Norris was basking in the glory of his top lap time, Oscar Piastri faced a different reality. The Australian driver finished the session in 11th place, clocking a time that was 0.68 seconds slower than his teammate. Piastri attempted to set a competitive lap on two occasions, but both runs were marred by mistakes—one at Turn 1 and the other at the chicane between Turns 6 and 7.
Piastri’s difficulties were compounded by the fact that he missed the first practice session. This was due to McLaren’s decision to give IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward a chance to drive, fulfilling a requirement for the team to field an inexperienced driver during the season. As a result, Piastri appeared to be struggling with the balance of his MCL39 throughout FP2, even after making adjustments on the fly. This ongoing issue persisted into his high-fuel race simulation run on medium tires, where he was again slower than Norris, putting his championship aspirations in jeopardy.
Other Notable Performances
George Russell, driving for Mercedes, secured the third-fastest time of the session, finishing 0.379 seconds behind Norris. Despite a productive hour on the track, Russell reported issues with the car’s ride quality, stating, "the ride’s completely gone." This highlights the challenges teams face in optimizing their setups for varying track conditions.
British rookie Oliver Bearman impressed by placing fourth, with his Haas car only 0.418 seconds off the lead time. His enthusiasm was evident as he communicated over the radio, "Mate, the car is insane! I don’t know how the car is so good," reflecting the positive momentum for the Haas team.
Sauber teammates Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were closely matched, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, both nearly half a second off the pace. Racing Bull driver Isack Hadjar came in seventh, 0.574 seconds behind the leader, while Charles Leclerc was the fastest Ferrari driver in eighth, trailing Norris by 0.575 seconds. This was a notable decline from FP1, where Leclerc had shown greater promise, finishing just shy of Norris’s time.
Fernando Alonso, representing Aston Martin, secured ninth place, while Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, rounded out the top ten, finishing 0.625 seconds behind. Piastri followed in 11th, with other notable drivers such as Lance Stroll, Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, and Alex Albon filling positions down to 15th.
Esteban Ocon placed 16th for Haas, not sharing the same enthusiasm for his car as his teammate Bearman. Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson finished 17th and 18th, respectively, while Alpine teammates Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly rounded out the session at the bottom of the order.
What’s Next for the Teams?
As the teams prepare for the final race of the season, the stakes are higher than ever. With the championship title on the line, every practice session and qualifying round becomes crucial for both drivers and their teams. Lando Norris’s strong performance in FP2 puts him in a favorable position, but the unpredictability of racing means that anything can happen as the weekend progresses.
For Oscar Piastri, the pressure is on to find a competitive setup and capitalize on the car’s capabilities. Missing a practice session has made it challenging for him to adapt quickly, and he must utilize the remaining time before the race wisely to improve his performance.
With the fierce competition between drivers and the technical challenges posed by the Yas Marina Circuit, the upcoming qualifying session and the race itself promise to be thrilling events that could shape the outcome of the championship.
As the teams analyze data and strategize for the race, fans eagerly anticipate what could be a dramatic conclusion to the season. With Lando Norris and Max Verstappen closely matched, the battle for supremacy will be one to watch, as both drivers have shown they possess the talent and determination to secure victory.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is not just another race; it is a pivotal moment in the motorsport calendar, where each team’s performance will be scrutinized, and every lap will count. As the tension builds, the excitement surrounding the event continues to grow, ensuring that motorsport enthusiasts around the world will be glued to their screens for what promises to be an unforgettable race.
