In a final decisive practice session before the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, George Russell set the timing sheets alight, edging out Lando Norris by just 0.004 seconds. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton saw his race cut short by the barriers, turning this session into an explosive cocktail of speed and drama.
Timid beginnings under the Abu Dhabi sun
The stifling heat of the early afternoon took its time to warm up the engines of the cars during this final practice session. Only a few cars, including the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, as well as the Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, dared to venture onto the track. Imagine a rock concert where only the bravest guitarists dare to play their riffs in the middle of the set.
Ultimately, it was Gasly and his Soft tyres who set a rather quiet initial time of 1:25.984, like a band starting slowly before building up momentum. But then, the intrepid Lando Norris arrived to set the record straight with an impressive lap of 1:24.728, allowing him to take the lead and shake up the competition.
Drivers in a fierce battle for pole
As the sun continued to shine on the circuit, Oscar Piastri quickly followed suit but had to settle behind Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, who posted a solid time of 1:24.893. Times were dropping like dominoes: Ollie Bearman and Charles Leclerc made their way to the top spots before Hamilton briefly took the lead with a 1:24.470. It all felt like a game of poker where each driver reveals their hand as they go.
A tense moment for Norris
But the tension was palpable. An unexpected incident occurred when Norris had to avoid Tsunoda in the final sector. Like in an action movie where the hero suddenly has to swerve to avoid disaster. This nerve-wracking moment was nothing compared to what was to follow: Hamilton cracked under the pressure.
Indeed, as he approached turn 9, he lost control after hitting the curbs, resulting in a violent off-track excursion that devastated the front of his Ferrari SF-25. The red flag waved in the warm Abu Dhabi air, halting the session for 13 minutes, much like a film that leaves us hanging before announcing a commercial break.
The final sprint for pole
Upon resumption, the drivers knew there wasn’t much time left to shine. Russell took advantage of the respite and pulled out all the stops with fresh C5 tyres. After a few frantic laps, he soared to the top with a staggering time of 1:23.334. Every second counts in Formula 1, and there he flew like an arrow, leaving Norris barely a breath behind.
Piastri climbed onto the virtual podium with an impressive time but failed to dethrone the two leaders. Verstappen, for his part, could do no better than third place after several attempts. Like a star trying to shine in the shadow of a greater talent.
A tough break for Tsunoda
But the intrigue didn’t stop there: in the pit lane, Kimi Antonelli was released into Tsunoda’s path, causing collateral damage that prevented the Japanese driver from continuing his race. A typical mishap on an already chaotic day for the Red Bull drivers.
Final standings of the practice session
The final results revealed a tight competition:
- 1 George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:23.334
- 2 Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:23.338
- 3 Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda) – 1:23.458
- 4 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1:23.585
- 5 Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:23.593
- 6 Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:23.605
- 7 Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:23.609
- 8 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:23.675
- 9 Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:23.707
- 10 Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) – 1:23.722
So, it’s a thrilling setup that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has in store for us this weekend, with Russell on the fast track and Hamilton looking to bounce back after his crash. Who will take the prize? Stay tuned! You can follow all the news on Formula 1 and motorsport here.
