Lando Norris led an exciting second free practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit, emerging as the fastest driver of the day. The Briton, along with teammate Oscar Piastri, positioned McLaren as the team to beat during the final weekend of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
A KEY DAY FOR THE COMPETITION
The P2 session, widely regarded as the most representative practice before Sunday’s race, provided a glimpse of what’s to come in the Grand Prix. Norris clocked the fastest lap with a 1:23.517, followed by Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg from Haas, who completed the provisional top three.
Meanwhile, Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc battled to stay close to the McLarens. However, the Italian team faces an additional challenge as Leclerc is set to receive a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding the allocation of Energy Stores.
A CHALLENGING CIRCUIT
The conditions at Yas Marina, with temperatures dropping during the session, allowed for qualifying simulations in the final stages. The technical nature of the track tested the drivers’ precision, with incidents such as Max Verstappenstruggling with curbs and Jack Doohan of Alpine locking his tires multiple times.
Despite setbacks, Ferrari showed flashes of competitiveness, with Sainz securing fourth place, followed by Lewis Hamilton, who is competing in his final race with Mercedes. Leclerc finished sixth, while other notable names such as Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen also featured in the top ten.
CHALLENGES FOR RED BULL
One of the day’s most unexpected outcomes was Red Bull’s performance. Sergio Pérez ended in 14th place, while world champion Verstappen finished a distant 17th, plagued by issues with the front axle. The session underscored that the team has significant work ahead before qualifying.
WHAT’S NEXT
With the FP3 session scheduled for 2:30 PM local time, teams will have one last opportunity to fine-tune their setups before qualifying. This Grand Prix promises to cap off the season with intense battles among McLaren, Ferrari, and the rest of the grid.
McLaren’s dominant performance in P2 sends a strong message: they are ready to end the year on a high. Can Norris capitalize on this advantage and close the season with a victory? Everything will be decided this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
