Russell Leads as Norris Follows; Hamilton Crashes in Final Abu Dhabi Practice Session
The final practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix saw George Russell take the lead, with strong performances from Lando Norris and Max Verstappen following closely behind. Russell clocked a time of 1 minute 23.334 seconds, a mere 0.004 seconds ahead of Norris, showcasing the competitive nature of the session.
Key Highlights from the Final Practice Session
The session began quietly, with many drivers spending time in the garage. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were the first to venture out. They carried out their routine of tyre scrubbing.
- Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto of Alpine aimed to troubleshoot their vehicle’s issues from the previous day.
- Norris initially established a top time of 1 minute 24.728 seconds, although it fell short in comparison to his earlier sessions.
Close Contenders
As the circuit’s conditions improved, Norris faced a near-incident with Yuki Tsunoda, who failed to yield, resulting in Norris having to take evasive action. Meanwhile, Ollie Bearman showcased impressive speed, just 0.008 seconds slower than Norris.
Max Verstappen briefly took the top position before being demoted by Stroll, who delivered a rapid lap on soft tyres. The competitive atmosphere intensified as drivers quickly sought to enhance their qualifying setups.
Incident Report
A significant incident occurred when Lewis Hamilton lost control at Turn 9, crashing into the barrier due to a front-end issue. Fortunately, he remained uninjured but caused delays as his car was recovered. Piastri then briefly moved to first place before Norris reclaimed the lead with a time of 1 minute 23.338 seconds.
- Hamilton suffered a spin and crash at Turn 9.
- Piastri improved from P18 to P1 using fresh tyres.
Final Standings
In the closing moments of the session, Russell surged to the front, while Alonso managed an impressive fourth place finish. Overall, just 0.388 seconds separated the top ten drivers.
| Position | Driver | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | 1:23.334 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | 1:23.338 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | 1:23.445 |
| 4 | Fernando Alonso | 1:23.555 |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | 1:23.668 |
| 6 | Esteban Ocon | 1:23.912 |
| 7 | Ollie Bearman | 1:23.922 |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | 1:24.002 |
| 9 | Kimi Antonelli | 1:24.123 |
| 10 | Alex Albon | 1:24.210 |
The drivers now face a critical period to prepare before qualifying starts at 1800 local time. The competition remains fierce as teams gear up for what promises to be an exhilarating race weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
