Overview
- Lando Norris leads the standings on 408 points ahead of Max Verstappen on 396 and Oscar Piastri on 392, and he can secure the title with a podium finish.
- McLaren CEO Zak Brown said the team would ask Piastri to move aside to protect Norris if the race situation means the Australian cannot win the championship.
- FP1 featured nine rookies as Pato O’Ward took Piastri’s seat and finished 15th, Franco Colapinto was 10th at 0.370s, and Norris topped the session by 0.008s from Verstappen.
- Norris also led FP2 with a 1:23.083 ahead of Verstappen, George Russell was close behind, Piastri placed 11th after rejoining, and Alpine slumped with Colapinto 19th and Pierre Gasly 20th.
- Pole position could prove decisive at Yas Marina, where the race winner has started first in each of the past ten editions.