Lando Norris sets an example in the first part of the grand finale for the Formula 1 championship title. The world championship leader in the McLaren sets two fastest practice times at the start of the GP weekend in Abu Dhabi.
05.12.2025, 16:05
05.12.2025, 16:09
SDA
In the first practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit, however, Norris was only slightly faster than his closest rival for the title, Max Verstappen. The defending champion in the Red Bull was eight thousandths of a second slower, while Norris' team-mate Oscar Piastri retired. Mexican Patricio O'Ward was allowed to drive his car. That was the plan for a long time.
It became clearer in the second 60 minutes. Norris distanced Verstappen by over three and a half tenths of a second, while Piastri was only 11th. Verstappen, whose title era began in Abu Dhabi in 2021, was content with a single fast lap.
McLaren with team order if necessary
The final practice session will now follow on Saturday afternoon, before qualifying in the afternoon (from 15:00) to determine the best grid positions. For the showdown on Sunday (from 14:00), McLaren's Managing Director Zak Brown wants to throw the so-called "papaya" rules overboard if necessary, meaning that neither Norris nor Piastri will be favored. The 54-year-old explained that, in principle, he would like to do without a stable order. However, this would also depend on qualifying and the race.
"If it is pretty clear in the race that one driver has a chance and the other doesn't, we will do everything we can to win the drivers' title. It would be crazy not to," Brown told Sky Sports on Friday.
17:6 - this statistic also speaks in Norris' favor
But Norris actually has it in his own hands. All the Englishman has to do to become world champion is finish on the podium. He has done so 17 times this year, but has also failed to do so six times. If he doesn't make it a seventh time, the maths will start. Norris has 12 more championship points than Verstappen and 16 more than Piastri ahead of the season finale. The top ten drivers are rewarded with 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and one point in descending order.
