Lando Norris led team-mate Oscar Piastre in a one-two finish in second practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as McLaren got off to a promising start in their bid to seal the constructors’ championship.
McLaren had already received a big boost on Friday when Ferrari, trying to overturn a 21-point deficit in Sunday’s season finale, suffered a huge blow as Charles Leclerc was handed a 10-place grid penalty for taking a new battery.
Their prospects of winning the constructors’ title for the first time since 1998 were further boosted in Friday night’s crucial session in conditions very similar to those in qualifying and the race as Norris and Piastre impressed.
Norris set a time of 1:23.517s to finish more than two-tenths of a second clear of Piastri, while the pair also set strong pace in their longer race simulation runs.
Nico Hulkenberg was another couple of tenths back for Haas ahead of a surprising third place from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, while Leclerc could only manage sixth.
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Sky Sports has reviewed Lewis Hamilton’s most emotional moments for Mercedes ahead of his final race in Abu Dhabi.
Lewis Hamilton, who is driving for Mercedes for the last time before ending his 12-season run with the team to join Ferrari next year, was fifth.
George Russell and Max Verstappen, two drivers who have come under the spotlight in Abu Dhabi for their unusual animosity, have both struggled.
Mercedes’ Russell could only manage 13th after making a mistake on the soft tyres, while world champion Verstappen was unhappy with his Red Bull’s drive as he could only hold on to 17th.
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Craig Slater took a closer look at how Qatar penalties escalated between George Russell and Max Verstappen after George called the Red Bull driver a “thug”.
Verstappen, Sainz and Piastre were three of six drivers who withdrew from first practice to allow their teams to fill their mandatory quota of young drivers for the season.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1 live Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Saturday December 7
8.10: F1 Academy Race One
10.15. Abu Dhabi GP third practice session (session starts at 10.30am)
12.10: F2 Sprint race
13.15. Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying
14:00. ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*
16:00: F1 Academy: Race Two
5:00 PM Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday, December 8
7.10: The third race of the F1 Academy
9.20: F2 feature race
11.30. Grand Prix Sunday. Abu Dhabi GP Rally
13:00 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
At 15:00. Checkered flag. Abu Dhabi GP reaction
16:00: Ted’s notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1 at 1pm on Sunday. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW
