Norris Tops First Practice at Abu Dhabi as Title Decider Weekend Begins

Sports

Lando Norris set the pace in Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, putting himself just ahead of rival Max Verstappen as the season finale begins at the Yas Marina Circuit. Norris posted the fastest lap of 1:24.485 as he looks to carry momentum into the most important weekend of the year.

Verstappen finished just 0.008 seconds behind, with Charles Leclerc slotting into third position only 0.016 seconds off the top time. The early pace from all three front-runners hinted at a tightly contested qualifying and race to come.

The session featured extensive running from rookie and reserve drivers, with several teams opting to give their young talents seat time. Championship challenger Oscar Piastri did not participate, lending his car to his team’s reserve driver in line with the season’s FP1 regulations.

Kimi Antonelli impressed with fourth place, while Nico Hulkenberg secured fifth after a strong early showing. The midfield remained closely packed, with multiple teams using FP1 to evaluate long-run performance ahead of the strategic battles expected throughout the weekend.

With the top three separated by just hundredths of a second, the title-deciding weekend is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic season finales in recent years. Every lap will matter as the championship contenders build toward qualifying and the final race of the season.