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The Independent UK

Kieran Jackson

F1 Abu Dhabi GP live: Norris pips Verstappen to top spot again in second practice

F1 Lando Norris Max Verstappen McLaren Abu Dhabi Oscar Piastri Abu Dhabi GP Jack Rathborn Red Bull

The 2025 Formula 1 season concludes this weekend with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the F1 drivers’ title will be settled as Lando Norris bids to hold his nerve and triumph ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.

The McLaren drivers will battle the Red Bull star on Sunday after a thrilling finale to the season, with Verstappen edging closer to Norris after victory in Qatar last week, chopping down the deficit to just 12 points after another mistake-ridden weekend for the British outfit.

READ: Lando Norris can play it down all he likes – an F1 world title would put him among the elite

The equation is simple for Verstappen, who will hope to land another win with Norris in fourth or lower to scoop a fifth title in as many seasons. Team dynamics, and papaya rules, could impact how Piastri’s role evolves over the weekend, should his own chances of winning the title fade with 16 points separating him and his teammate. McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirmed team orders would be invoked should it be necessary.

Norris went fastest in both practice sessions on Friday, with Verstappen following closely behind in second but Piastri down the order in 11th in the evening session.

Follow all the latest updates from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with The Independent:

Lando Norris can play it down all he likes – an F1 world title would put him among the elite

The three F1 title finales that show why Lando Norris is far from safe in Abu Dhabi

Lando Norris reveals stance on McLaren team orders for F1 title showdown

F1 2025: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The final round of the 2025 F1 season takes place in Abu Dhabi
Qualifying takes place at 2pm (GMT) on Saturday
Lando Norris leads Max Verstappen by 12 points with the title at stake
Norris quickest in both Friday practice sessions, ahead of Verstappen in second
COMMENT: Lando Norris can play it down all he likes – an F1 world title would put him among the elite

What time is qualifying on Saturday?

14:30 , Kieran Jackson

The all-important qualifying session at the Yas Marina Circuit takes place at 2pm (GMT).

The final practice session is at 10:30am on Saturday.

Lewis Hamilton on drivers' end-of-season dinner:

17:00 , Kieran Jackson

“Class of 2025. We’re the only people in the world to do what we do and for that we’re incredibly lucky. I’m grateful for this group of drivers I have the privilege of racing against and even though we’re competitors, there’s nothing but respect and I’m proud to call them friends.

“Hope to give you all a great last race of the season.”

The F1 drivers gather for their 2025 end-of-season dinner (Instagram - lewishamilton)

British F1 world champions

16:00 , Kieran Jackson

Can Norris join this special list?

Mike Hawthorn (1958)
Graham Hill (1962, 1968)
Jim Clark (1963, 1965)
John Surtees (1964)2)
Sir Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973)
James Hunt (1976)
Nigel Mansell (1992)
Damon Hill (1996)
Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Jenson Button (2009)

Lando Norris can play it down all he likes – F1 title would be life-changing

15:00 , Kieran Jackson

By Kieran Jackson in Abu Dhabi

Lando Norris, leader by 12 points, did his best to defuse the enormity of the occasion. “It’s the same as every weekend, nothing changes,” he began. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, flanking the Briton on either side, echoed a similar sentiment. This was all their years of media training at the most simplistic level.

Moments later, a Brazilian reporter couldn’t help but remark: “You all say it’s a normal weekend but, well... it’s not.” This seemed the appropriate cut-through moment.

Full piece below:

Norris can play it down all he likes – an F1 title would put him among the elite

Positions 11-20 in FP2

14:23 , Kieran Jackson

11. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

13. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

14. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

15. Alex Albon (Williams)

16. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

17. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

18. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

19. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

20. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

Top-10 in FP2

14:16 , Kieran Jackson

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:23.083

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.363

3. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.379

4. Oliver Bearman (Haas) +0.418

5. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) +0.467

6. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) +0.487

7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +0.574

8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.575

9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.625

10. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.667

Lando Norris fastest in FP2

14:03 , Kieran Jackson

The answer is no; Norris and Verstappen did not have time to set another lap.

For the championship leader, a perfect day. Verstappen has been close in second but the gap in this session stands at a healthy 0.363 seconds.

George Russell takes third, with Ollie Bearman and Nico Hulkenberg rounding off the top-five. Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, has work to do, down in 11th.

6-10: Bortoleto, Hadjar, Leclerc, Alsono, Antonelli

Final soft tyre runs

13:59 , Kieran Jackson

Norris on softs, Verstappen on softs.

Will we have any late change to the top of the leaderboard?!

Piastri down in 11th

13:49 , Kieran Jackson

The Australian, who is still six-tenths off Norris, hasn’t got a time quick enough to even be in the top-10.

That probably won’t change either, as they all finish off the session with their race simulation runs.

Final 10 minutes now...

Norris pips Verstappen again

13:47 , Kieran Jackson

Biggest statement Lando Norris has made so far today.

The championship leader goes fastest with a 1:23:083 - three-tenths quicker than Verstappen in second.

Oscar Piastri, as it stands, is six-tenths off the pace down in ninth.

Max Verstappen goes quickest in FP2

13:29 , Kieran Jackson

The Dutchman with a 1:23:446 - a tenth quicker than Nico Hulkenberg in second.

3-10: Hadjar, Sainz, Bearman, Ocon, Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Lawson

Main contenders yet to set a lap time on softs, other than Verstappen.

George Russell on team radio:

13:21 , Kieran Jackson

“The car is feeling much more put together, probably mostly from the wind shift.”

Isack Hadjar quickest

13:14 , Kieran Jackson

The Frenchman, who will be a Red Bull driver next year, is fastest early on with a 1:24:167 - 0.034 secs quicker than Ollie Bearman in second, both on soft tyres.

All the title protagonists on mediums at this early stage and ranked in the midfield.

Max Verstappen noted for impeding

13:12 , Kieran Jackson

And it’s on his title rival Lando Norris!

Norris “What’s this guy doing? I almost crashed.”

Verstappen was late to get out of the way at turn 1, but more his engineer’s fault than the driver.

Shouldn’t be anything more than a warning for Verstappen.

FP2 underway!

13:00 , Kieran Jackson

First outings of the day for the nine drivers who missed out this morning, including Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton.

The only practice session to take place in qualifying and race conditions, so should be a key data-gatherer for the teams.

F1 driver standings in full heading into the weekend

12:50 , Kieran Jackson

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 408 points

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 396 points

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 392 points

4. George Russell (Mercedes) – 309 points

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 230 points

6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 152 points

7. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 152 points

8. Alex Albon (Williams) – 73 points

9. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 64 points

10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 51 points

11. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 49 points

12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 48 points

13. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 41 points

14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 38 points

15. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 33 points

16. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 32 points

17. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 32 points

18. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 22 points

19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 19 points

20. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points

21. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 0 points

F1 constructor standings in full:

12:30 , Kieran Jackson

1. McLaren - 800 points (champions)

2. Mercedes - 459 points

3. Red Bull - 426 points

4. Ferrari - 382 points

5. Williams - 137 points

6. Racing Bulls - 92 points

7. Aston Martin - 80 points

8. Haas - 73 points

9. Sauber - 68 points

10. Alpine - 22 points

Max Verstappen on his parents not being in attendance:

12:15 , Kieran Jackson

“My dad is rallying in Africa [competing in the East African Safari Classic in Kenya] and my mum is at home, happy with the dogs,” he said. “They were not expecting to be here – all plans were cancelled after Zandvoort [in August.].

“I don’t need them here to motivate me. My Mum lights a candle before every race weekend… but I guess they trust their son.”

Max Verstappen is bidding to win a fifth world championship (David Davies/PA) (PA Wire)

Who won battle of FP1 rookies?

10:59 , Kieran Jackson

11. Ryo Hirakawa (Haas)

12. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - not a rookie

13. Paul Aron (Alpine)

14. Pato O'Ward (McLaren)

15. Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull)

16. Arthur Leclerc (Ferrari)

17. Ayumu Iwasa (Racing Bulls)

18. Luke Browning (Williams)

19. Jak Crawford (Aston Martin)

20. Cian Shields (Aston Martin)

Top-10 in FP1

10:45 , Kieran Jackson

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:24.485

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.008

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.016

4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.123

5. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) +0.144

6. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.248

7. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) +0.257

8. Oliver Bearman (Haas) +0.274

9. Carlos Sainz (Williams) +0.286

10. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +0.370

Lando Norris finishes quickest in FP1

10:32 , Kieran Jackson

A final push lap from the championship leader sees Norris take top spot by just 0.008 seconds to Verstappen.

Gosh, that is tight.

Charles Leclerc completes the top-three, also very close to Norris - just 0.016 seconds in it!

4-10: Antonelli, Hulkenberg, Russell, Bortoleto, Bearman, Sainz, Colapinto

Ryo Hirakawa the fastest of the rookies in 11th. Arvid Lindblad, in the Red Bull, is P15.

Max Verstappen on team radio:

10:23 , Kieran Jackson

“I think something might be broken on the car - it’s everywhere now.”

The typical Verstappen FP1 moans!

Ryo Hirawaka fastest of the rookies

10:20 , Kieran Jackson

The Haas driver, currently P11, leads the way in the rookie stakes.

Most drivers have switched to the mediums now, so no significant changes at the top as we enter the last 10 minutes.

Verstappen now P1

10:08 , Kieran Jackson

Verstappen 1st, Norris 2nd, Leclerc 3rd - a pretty tasty top three halfway through FP1!

Verstappen’s advantage is slim though, just 0.026 seconds, with all the top-eight on soft tyres now.

1-10: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Antonelli, Hulkenberg, Russell, Colapinto, Sainz, Hadjar, Bortoleto

Bearman has an oil leak

09:52 , Kieran Jackson

Unideal for the Briton, who is slowly guiding his car back to the pits as he has an oil leak.

And in the last few moments, Nico Hulkenberg has taken top spot away from Norris

Norris quickest early on

09:43 , Kieran Jackson

It’s the way the weekend has started - will it be the way the weekend ends?

Lando Norris fastest on the medium tyre so far, with George Russell 0.035 seconds off in second.

Tellingly, Pato O’Ward - filling in for OscarPiastri - is third on the leaderboard so far.

FP1 underway:

09:30 , Kieran Jackson

With unusually cloudy skies overhead in Abu Dhabi, we are all systems go for the final race weekend of the 2025 season!

Nine rookie drivers in total in this session, with Oscar Piastri missing out among the title contenders.

Can Lando Norris and Max Verstappen use this extra hour of practice to their advantage?

Which rookie drivers are taking part in FP1?

09:25 , Kieran Jackson

Pato O'Ward – McLaren
Arthur Leclerc – Ferrari
Arvid Lindblad – Red Bull
Luke Browning – Williams
Ayumu Iwasa – Racing Bulls
Ryo Hirakawa – Haas
Jak Crawford - Aston Martin
Cian Shields - Aston Martin
Paul Aron - Alpine

Analysis: Lando Norris can play it down all he likes – an F1 world title would put him among the elite

09:20 , Kieran Jackson

With barely any space to squeeze through the dozen-row deep horde of reporters and photographers, the three Formula One championship protagonists entered their first arena of the weekend. The FIA have been prone to lapses in common sense at times but, to the delight of all present, F1’s governing body grouped together the top three on Thursday.

It made for a background buzz rarely seen in modern-day sporting press conferences.

Full piece below:

Norris can play it down all he likes – an F1 title would put him among the elite

Max Verstappen on title race:

08:10 , Kieran Jackson

“The trophy looks the same. I have four of those at home, so it’s nice to add a fifth. I know my signature.

“Of course you always try to win it. But at the same time, I’ve already achieved all that I wanted to achieve in F1, and everything else is just a bonus.

“I just keep doing it because I love it and I enjoy it. I’m very relaxed, I have nothing to lose, and I’m just enjoying being here.”