Lando Norris dominates second practice and leaves rivals in shock
- Lando Norris led the second practice session in Abu Dhabi, clocking a best time of 1:23.517.
- Charles Leclerc received a penalty for changing the battery on his Ferrari, impacting Ferrari's chances.
- McLaren is 21 points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' standings, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming race.
In the lead-up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, British driver Lando Norris set a strong pace during the second practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit, demonstrating McLaren's considerable competitiveness. This session took place shortly after a challenging opening practice where Ferrari's Charles Leclerc initially showed promising times, only to face a setback due to a penalty incurred from replacing a battery pack. While McLaren is in pursuit of securing the constructors' title, they currently hold a slim 21-point advantage over Ferrari, which amplifies the stakes heading into the race weekend. Norris' fastest lap of one minute and 23.517 seconds not only bested his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri but also positioned the McLaren team favorably against its rivals. This performance comes after Norris expressed a belief that while their pace appears strong, other teams may not have shown their full potential yet. For Ferrari, the gap is something that drives them to seek extraordinary efforts to overturn the points deficit as they go into the final race of the season, underlining their ambition. As the session progressed, it was evident that other drivers, such as Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz, were also working to refine their setups, with Hamilton finishing fifth and Sainz fourth. Meanwhile, the situation was less favorable for drivers like George Russell and Max Verstappen, who struggled with their cars’ balance and ended in thirteenth and seventeenth places respectively. Verstappen specifically noted issues with mid-corner connections which hindered their ability to push the car effectively. Overall, the second practice highlighted the competitiveness of the top teams, with McLaren appearing particularly strong. However, the varying performances across the teams leave a question of how these results will translate into qualifying and ultimately the race itself, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the Formula One season in the United Arab Emirates.