The Formula 1 championship battle opened with immediate intensity at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Title contender Lando Norris topped the first practice session. He narrowly beat his rival, Max Verstappen, at the Yas Marina Circuit. Norris holds a slim 12-point lead heading into the decisive final race weekend. The small time margin of just 0.008 seconds between the two drivers highlighted the expected tension for the title showdown.
Norris set his fastest lap time of 1:24.485s. This came after an aborted initial run. The McLaren driver carefully managed his soft tires before launching a perfect second attempt. Meanwhile, Verstappen appeared less focused on maximizing single-lap pace. The Red Bull star set his best time early in the session. He did not chase further improvements. These early Friday results typically offer limited insight. Both qualifying and the race take place later in the day under floodlights. However, the session demonstrated the fine margins separating the top contenders.
Title Scenarios and Missing Drivers
Oscar Piastri, the third driver still mathematically eligible for the championship, did not participate in Practice One. McLaren fulfilled their obligation to allow a rookie driver to use Piastri’s car. Pato O’Ward substituted for the session. Piastri trails Norris by 16 points. Team principal Zak Brown confirmed that McLaren will utilize team orders if the situation demands it. The team’s primary goal is ensuring one of their drivers secures the championship victory.
The session featured several new faces. Nine established drivers surrendered their seats to young talent for the opening hour. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third overall. Leclerc showed solid pace, trailing Norris by a minuscule 0.016 seconds. Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, finished an impressive fourth. He posted a time just 0.123 seconds off the leading pace. Ryo Hirakawa proved to be the fastest of the rookie group. He drove for Haas and placed 11th on the leaderboard.
Rookie Talent on Display
The driver lineup included several exciting young prospects. Arvid Lindblad, recently announced as a Racing Bulls driver for 2026, drove for the senior Red Bull squad. He finished less than a second behind Verstappen. This gave the team a valuable opportunity to evaluate his performance alongside the title contender. Arthur Leclerc, Charles’s brother, also drove in the session for Ferrari.
Despite the non-representative track conditions, the results send a clear message: the championship remains wide open. The small gaps between Norris, Verstappen, and Leclerc suggest a thrilling contest is imminent. Fans can expect the true competitive picture to emerge later on Saturday during qualifying. The tight fight promises a high-stakes final race on Sunday. Every point, every tenth of a second, now carries enormous significance.
