Lando Norris admitted his world championship prospects are “looking good” after he stole an early advantage by dominating practice in Formula One’s hotly anticipated season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Norris, who will secure his maiden title if he finishes at least third in Sunday’s 58-lap race, saw off rival Max Verstappen by a commanding 0.363 seconds under the lights of the Yas Marina Circuit. Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, the other championship contender, could manage only 11th.
Norris is on the brink of being crowned champion of the world but faces intense competition from Red Bull’s Verstappen, who is 12 points behind him. Piastri also remains in the battle, albeit four points back.
Yet it was Norris, bidding to become the 11th British driver to take motor racing’s biggest prize, who led the way in both sessions on Friday.
Norris beat Verstappen to top spot by just eight thousandths of a second in the first running before extending his advantage to nearly four tenths with a statement lap by the day’s close.
It will go some way to settling the nerves for the 26-year-old, who admitted heading into the decider that he has the most to lose.
“Obviously from the times, things look good at the minute,” said Norris.
“I still want a bit more from the car. I’m not completely happy or completely confident. I’ve been in the middle of trying some different things with the car. So hopefully there’s more stuff we can get out of it overnight.
“It’s not been a bad day, for sure. It’s been a positive one. But we always know it gets a lot closer going into qualifying tomorrow, so there is nothing to smile about just yet.”
There was a close call in second practice when Norris had to briefly divert from the racing line to avoid running into the back of Verstappen.
“What’s this guy doing,” complained Norris over the radio. “Almost crashed.” The stewards did not investigate the early flashpoint.
Verstappen had earlier bemoaned the handling of a Red Bull which has carried him to five victories in his last eight appearances.
“I think something is broken on the car,” reported Verstappen in the first session.
“Where are the main areas of issue?,” his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, asked.
“It is everywhere now,” replied the Dutchman.
Verstappen’s verdict at the end of the day? “We need to be a little bit faster,” he said. “Still not quick enough.”
Piastri once held a 34-point championship lead. However, he heads into Sunday’s race as a rank outsider and facing the prospect of playing second fiddle to Norris.
Piastri was replaced by Pato O’Ward, who was among nine rookie drivers in mandatory action, for the first session, and then struggled for speed when he hit the track, locking up at turn six on his quickest lap and failing to improve on a time which left him nearly seven tenths adrift of Norris.
Away from the title battle, Mercedes are looking to cement second in the constructors’ championship and George Russell took third spot for the Silver Arrows, one place ahead of Ollie Bearman who impressed for Haas.
Lewis Hamilton is ready to draw the curtain on his nightmare first season for Ferrari. He finished only 14th, 0.856secs off the pace.
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