Abu Dhabi GP Drama: George Russell Surpasses Lando Norris and Max Verstappen While Lewis Hamilton Crashes in Final Practice

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Abu Dhabi GP Drama: George Russell Surpasses Lando Norris and Max Verstappen While Lewis Hamilton Crashes in Final Practice

The final practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix unfolded dramatically, showcasing an intense competition among the title contenders. George Russell led the session, clocking a time of 1:23.334 in his Mercedes.

Final Practice Overview

1st: George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:23.334
2nd: Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.004 seconds
3rd: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.124 seconds
4th: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.251 seconds
5th: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.259 seconds

Lando Norris was a close second, just four thousandths of a second behind Russell, while Verstappen secured third place. Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five.

Challenges Faced by Title Contenders

The session took a turn when Lewis Hamilton crashed his Ferrari at high speed, creating urgency for his team to repair the car ahead of qualifying. Hamilton’s misfortune adds pressure as qualifying approaches, with a scheduled start time of 2 PM UK time.

Norris, who previously topped both of Friday’s sessions, remains a favorite for pole position. A podium finish in Sunday’s race would ensure he secures his first F1 world championship. Nico Rosberg of Sky Sports commented on Norris’s composure under pressure, highlighting his impressive performance this weekend.

Key Incidents During Practice

During the session, Norris faced a nearly disastrous moment when he had to avoid colliding with Yuki Tsunoda’s slow-moving Red Bull, which forced him wide. This incident could have significantly impacted his qualifying strategy.

Another notable event involved Mercedes releasing Kimi Antonelli into the path of Tsunoda, leading to an investigation of the team’s pit lane practices. Team principal Toto Wolff expressed optimism about competing for pole under single-lap conditions, despite concerns about long-run capabilities.

Current Standings and Championship Implications

Heading into the race weekend, the championship standings show Norris 16 points ahead of Piastri, while Verstappen trails by 12 points. The scenario for Verstappen to clinch his fifth world title requires both tactical performance and support from other drivers, notably the Mercedes team.

As anticipation builds for the qualifying session, the results from final practice set the stage for an exhilarating race day.