Lando Norris. Photo: photosport
McLaren's Formula One leader Lando Norris made a perfect start to the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend with the fastest laps in both practice sessions while Red Bull rival Max Verstappen was second.
The Briton, 12 points clear of the four times world champion after 23 of 24 rounds, was 0.008 quicker in an unrepresentative afternoon session and then 0.363 faster in the second at night under the Yas Marina floodlights.
Verstappen was noted by stewards for impeding Norris in an early misunderstanding after being fed wrong information by his race engineer, but they decided not to investigate further. "What's this guy doing? I almost crashed," exclaimed Norris.
Piastri lags
Teammate Oscar Piastri, the third title contender but four points behind Verstappen, was 11th on the timesheets after sitting out the first session with Mexican IndyCar driver and F1 reserve Pato O'Ward getting track time.
Oscar Piastri leads McLaren team-mate Lando Norris during the Belgian Grand Prix, 2025. Photo: FLORENT GOODEN / PHOTOSPORT
The Australian looked strong on long runs, however.
"Oscar is not totally dialled in yet but he will get there," said McLaren boss Zak Brown. "I've been impressed with both of our drivers coming into the weekend, they seem more relaxed than normal."
Mercedes' George Russell, who could play a disruptive role in the title battle on Sunday, was third in practice two with Haas's Oliver Bearman fourth and Nico Hulkenberg fifth for Sauber ahead of his 250th start.
"The car is insane. I don't know how the car is so good," exclaimed Bearman over the team radio.
Last year's race winner Norris was one of only 11 race regulars taking part in a first session otherwise handed over to young prospects and development drivers.
Verstappen, a four-times winner in Abu Dhabi, had sounded concerned over the radio with his car's handling on a slippery surface in the afternoon heat.
"There might be something broken on the car," he reported.
Under Formula One rules each regular driver must make way in two Friday first practice sessions per season for rookies or drivers who have started no more than two grands prix.
Lawson quiet
New Zealand's Liam Lawson skipped the first practice session and could only manage the 18th fastest time in the second.
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: DPPI / PHOTOSPORT
In his appearance since having his Racing Bulls contract extended until next year, Lawson drove 32 laps, clocking one minute 24.474 seconds.
Lawson's Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar was seventh, 0.574sec off Norris' time, after being confirmed to step up to partner Verstappen at Red Bull next year.
Arvid Lindblad, who has been promoted as Lawson's new team-mate next year, drove a session for Red Bull and was 15th fastest.
Rest of the field
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was third and eighth fastest respectively in the two sessions with younger brother Arthur 16th in Lewis Hamilton's car in the afternoon.
The Monegasque siblings made history at the track last year when they became the first brothers to take part in a practice session as teammates but the older Leclerc sounded less happy this time.
Hamilton returned for practice two and was 14th and 0.856 off the pace.
Mercedes had race regulars Kimi Antonelli and Russell fourth and sixth respectively in session one.
Toyota-backed Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa, 31, was the fastest of the non-race drivers in 11th for Haas, and ahead of Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar in 12th.
McLaren to use team orders
Meanwhile, McLaren will impose team orders if necessary to secure the Formula One drivers' title and deny Verstappen a fifth in a row, chief executive Zak Brown said.
Verstappen is caught in a McLaren sandwich at the top of the standings, 12 points behind Lando Norris and four ahead of Oscar Piastri. Norris was asked on Thursday about circumstances possibly requiring the Australian to move over at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and said he would not be asking for that.
McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Photo: FLORENT GOODEN / PHOTOSPORT
Brown told Sky Sports television, however, that McLaren would want Piastri to yield.
"Yes, of course. We're realistic," he said. "We want to win this drivers' championship.
"If we get into the race and it's becoming pretty clear that one has a chance and the other doesn't, we're going to do what we can to win the drivers' championship. It would be crazy not to.
"We're not going to not win the championship because we're trying to protect a third and a fourth, or a sixth and a seventh, or however the situation may play out."
Norris will be champion if he finishes in the top three whereas Piastri must win or finish second to stand a chance.
Brown said Formula One had always been a team sport and played down the risk of a backlash from fans.
McLaren have already secured the constructors' title for the second year in a row.
"If one of them can't win, they want the other to win," he said. "And that's what the team wants. And they are team players and we've already seen that last year.
"I don't think it's unusual in any sport for teammates to make sacrifices for each other to give the team what they want."
- Reuters
