Get ready for an exciting weekend as the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix kicks off! The first practice session has already delivered some thrilling moments and set the stage for an intense title battle. Lando Norris takes the spotlight as he leads the pack, leaving his rivals Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in his wake.
But here's where it gets interesting: this race weekend is all about the rookies! A whopping nine newcomers made their mark on the timesheets during the opening practice hour at Yas Marina Circuit. Only Mercedes and Kick Sauber kept their usual lineup, while others, including championship contender Oscar Piastri, gave way to reserve drivers like Pato O'Ward.
Isack Hadjar, who will be replaced by the talented Arvid Lindblad next season, led the pack when the action began. All 20 cars were on the track within minutes, creating a busy and competitive atmosphere. However, traffic soon became an issue, causing some frustration for Hadjar and radio problems for Luke Browning, who was making his fourth FP1 appearance.
The early pace was set by Carlos Sainz, who clocked an impressive 1m 25.712s, but it didn't last long. The times kept tumbling, and the top spot changed hands as FP1 progressed. Lando Norris, the championship leader, was hot on Sainz's tail, just 0.052s behind.
Practice 1 Results:
| Pos. | Driver | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Lando Norris | 1:24.485 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | +0.008s |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | +0.016s |
| 4 | Kimi Antonelli | +0.123s |
| 5 | Nico Hulkenberg | +0.144s |
As the session progressed, Ollie Bearman encountered a power loss in his Haas, and the team identified a "leak" in the car. Meanwhile, Browning returned to the track after resolving his radio issues. At the halfway mark, Hadjar set a fast time, but it was soon beaten by his future teammate Verstappen, who clocked an impressive 1m 24.493s with soft tires.
George Russell, also on soft tires, slotted into P2, just 0.240s behind Verstappen. Kimi Antonelli followed suit, with a strong performance that kept Mercedes in contention for second place in the Teams' Championship.
Norris experienced a moment of drama through Turn 2, with a snap during his first flying run on the soft tires. Despite this, he managed to secure second place behind Verstappen.
There was a close call between Aston Martin's rookie drivers, Jak Crawford and Cian Shields, while Haas' Bearman initially seemed to overcome his earlier issues. However, the problem resurfaced, and the team decided to retire the car for the remainder of the session due to a sensor-related issue.
As the final 15 minutes approached, Norris held the top spot with a 1m 24.485s, narrowly ahead of Verstappen. Charles Leclerc slotted into third, while his brother Arthur was in 18th place. Verstappen reported a potential issue with his RB21, describing it as "broken" and affecting the entire car, but he continued racing.
Charles Leclerc spun at Turn 5, prompting Arthur to joke that his brother was "doing some burnouts" for the fans. As the clock wound down, Norris maintained his P1 position, with Verstappen and Charles Leclerc completing the top three. Antonelli and Russell followed in fourth and sixth, respectively, while Nico Hulkenberg separated the Mercedes duo in fifth.
The top 10 was rounded out by Gabriel Bortoleto, Ollie Bearman, Carlos Sainz, and Franco Colapinto. Ryo Hirakawa claimed P11, followed by Hadjar, Paul Aron, O'Ward, and Lindblad. Arthur Leclerc, Ayumu Iwasa, Luke Browning, Jak Crawford, and Cian Shields completed the classification.
With the first hour of practice complete, the drivers and teams will analyze their data and prepare for the more representative second practice session on Friday. Stay tuned for more exciting action from the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix!
