Overview
- Lando Norris set the FP2 benchmark at 1:23.083, 0.363 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, with George Russell third and Oscar Piastri 0.680 seconds back in 11th.
- A near-miss between Verstappen and Norris at Turn 1 was noted by stewards with no further investigation after Norris complained on team radio.
- Piastri skipped FP1 for rookie Patricio O’Ward’s mandatory run and reported balance issues in FP2 as he struggled to match race-pace and single-lap speed.
- The standings read Norris 408, Verstappen 396, Piastri 392, and Norris will be champion with a third-place finish or better regardless of rivals’ results.
- McLaren chief Zak Brown says the team prefers no team orders but would impose them if one driver’s title chance fades, while published permutations show Verstappen or Piastri could still win without a race victory and a triple DNF would crown Norris.