Lando Norris fastest after opening day with quickest FP2 time in Abu Dhabi GP

McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the second practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the fastest driver, beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. 

Feature image credit: McLaren Racing

Norris completed the double on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, to edge ahead of Verstappen as the fastest driver on Friday. 

The McLaren driver completed the day fastest in both FP1 and FP2, finishing the day under the lights 0.363s faster than Verstappen.

Nine drivers returned to their usual cars after being sidelined in the opening practice hour. Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon, Alexander Albon and Liam Lawson, all returned to their F1 machinery. 

One of the drivers to miss out on FP1 was McLaren’s chasing title contender, Oscar Piastri, who was replaced by Pato O’Ward for the opening practice hour. In the final session of the day, the Australian could only best 11th fastest, 0.68s off the pace.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris (McLaren Formula 1 Team, 81, 4) on the Friday at the Abu Dhabi GP 2025 05/12/2025 // Credit: Grégoire Truchet

So, who finished where?

1. Lando Norris, McLaren
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
3. George Russell, Mercedes
4. Oliver Bearman, Haas
5. Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber
6. Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber 
7. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
8. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
9. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
10. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
11. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
12. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
13. Carlos Sainz, Williams
14. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
15. Alexander Albon, Williams
16. Esteban Ocon, Haas 
17. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing 
18. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
19. Franco Colapinto, Alpine
20. Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Read more Formula 1 here:

• F1 drivers slam Kimi Antonelli abuse ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
• Toyota Gazoo Racing to become title sponsor of Haas
• ‘I’m not finished yet’ says Yuki Tsunoda in first post after Red Bull axe
• Red Bull and Racing Bulls confirm driver line-ups for 2026 to complete grid
• Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview: Drivers’ Championship goes down to the wire in season finale
• Max Verstappen cuts down title gap after Qatar Grand Prix win

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.