F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Lando Norris tops FP2 as Oscar Piastri finishes eleventh

Watch: F1 Replace: Norris hits the bottom working in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen “not in a snug scenario”

Lando Norris ended the ultimate Friday follow session of 2025 on prime of the FP2 standings on the Formulation 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, greater than three tenths away from Max Verstappen – as Oscar Piastri was solely eleventh.

Each Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar had damaged with conference within the early phases of the session and instantly set about placing laps on the tender tyre. This ensured that, after nearly all of the sphere had accomplished their exploratory runs on the medium tyre, the Haas and Racing Bulls drivers have been sitting atop the timing order – as Norris headlined these laps on the medium.

Amid the soft-tyre runs, Verstappen obtained out of the blocks early and set a 1m23.446s, a benchmark for future team-mate Hadjar to problem – the Frenchman was about 0.2s down when he crossed the road.

Nico Hulkenberg and George Russell then put collectively their first efforts on the softs, every having their very own transient spells occupying second within the time sheets, however Verstappen’s time couldn’t be moved by both.

Norris then ventured onto the circuit for his first go on the C5 tyre, and threw down the gauntlet with a 1m23.082s – greater than three tenths away from Verstappen.

There have been few challengers afterwards as the sphere gravitated in the direction of its longer runs, leaving Norris’ lap untouched for the remainder of the session – with a big gulf to team-mate Piastri, who was 0.68s down.

F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Lando Norris tops FP2 as Oscar Piastri finishes eleventh

George Russell, Mercedes

Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures

Piastri, who had missed FP1 as Pato O’Ward took his seat for the session, was struggling to search out the precise stability throughout the early a part of the session. This prompted McLaren to tinker along with his set-up to make sure the Australian may discover the dealing with qualities he desired. The work will probably proceed in a single day, as Piastri hopes to reprise his type from Qatar.

Russell’s time remained adequate for third, as Bearman continued to search out tempo on a subsequent soft-tyre run and labored his manner as much as fourth. The Haas driver remarked that the VF-25 was “insane” and he did not know the place the tempo had come from – with obvious robust efficiency within the lower-speed corners.

Each Saubers have been within the prime six, with Hulkenberg fifth from Gabriel Bortoleto; the Swiss staff is in its last race bearing the Sauber identify earlier than it transitions to Audi subsequent season.

Hadjar was seventh forward of Charles Leclerc, whereas Fernando Alonso – who gave up his seat to Cian Shields in FP1 – was ninth forward of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

The highest 16 have been all located inside a second as Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson – who missed FP1 and gave up their seats to future Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad and Tremendous Formulation champion Ayumu Iwasa – fell simply exterior of that bracket.

The 2 Alpines introduced up the rear – Franco Colapinto two tenths forward of Pierre Gasly.

Learn Additionally:

F1 Abu Dhabi GP – FP2 outcomes

Pictures from Abu Dhabi GP – Follow

Lando Norris, McLaren