Lando Norris went quickest in opening practice for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, finishing just 0.008s ahead of title rival Max Verstappen on thew weekend on which the Drivers’ Championship will be decided. The third contender for the crown, Oscar Piastri sat out the session with his McLaren car being taken over by Pato O’Ward.

It was a session in which a number of rookie drivers took part, with nine regulars sitting out the unrepresentative daytime session at the Yas Marina circuit as team adhered to regulations that stipulate drivers must cede their seat for at least two FP1s during the season to a driver with no more than two grand prix starts. Along with O’Ward at McLaren, Aston Martin ran Jak Crawford and Cian Shields, Red Bull Racing had 2026 Racing Bulls recruit Arvid Lindblad driving in place of Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls had Ayumu Iwasa in for Liam Lawson, Ferrari handed Lewis Hamilton’s car to Arthur Leclerc, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly made way for Paul Aron, Williams handed Luke Browning the car of Alex Albon and Haas handed Esteban Ocon’s car to Ryo Hirakawa. 

It was Verstappen who set the early pace in the session with a 1:27.130s on the Hard tyre, 0.038s ahead of George Russell on the same compound. There was a variety of compounds on display, however, and Medium-shod Norris took his turn at the top as the opening half hours saw a number of drivers have a moment in P1, including Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar who will replace Tsunoda at Red Bull Racing in 2026. 

The field then began to move to the C5 Soft compound tyres for performance running and Verstappen once again made his way to P1 with a lap of 1:24.493s, two hundredths of a second ahead of Norris and almost a tenth ahead of third-placed Ferrari regular Charles Leclerc.

Norris and Verstappen then traded best times before Norris eventually cemented himself into P1 with a lap of 1:24.485s that left him 0.008s clear of his championship rival. Leclerc completed the top three with a lap 1:24.501s, 0.016s behind Norris. 

Kimi Antonelli took P4 for Mercedes ahead of Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg with George Russell sixth in the other Mercedes, Gabriel Bortoleto was seventh in the other Sauber ahead of Haas’ Oliver Bearman who used Medium tyres to set his best time. Williams’ Carlos Sainz was ninth and the top 10 order was completed by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.

FIA World Endurance champion Hirakawa was quickest of the nine rookies in P11, with Aron in 13th ahead of O’Ward, Lindblad, Leclerc, Iwasa, Browning, Crawford and Shields who was 20th. 

2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Free Practice 1 
1 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:24.485 28 225.029
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:24.493 0.008 30 225.007
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:24.501 0.016 28 224.986
4 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:24.608 0.123 30 224.702
5 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 1:24.629 0.144 28 224.646
6 George Russell Mercedes 1:24.733 0.248 29 224.370
7 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 1:24.742 0.257 29 224.346
8 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:24.759 0.274 14 224.301
9 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:24.771 0.286 27 224.270
10 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Renault 1:24.855 0.370 28 224.048
11 Ryō Hirakawa Haas/Ferrari 1:24.934 0.449 28 223.839
12 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:24.977 0.492 31 223.726
13 Paul Aron Alpine/Renault 1:25.204 0.719 27 223.130
14 Patricio O'Ward McLaren/Mercedes 1:25.246 0.761 28 223.020
15 Arvid Lindblad Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:25.256 0.771 26 222.994
16 Arthur Leclerc Ferrari 1:25.360 0.875 27 222.722
17 Ayumu Iwasa Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:25.475 0.990 30 222.422
18 Luke Browning Williams/Mercedes 1:25.490 1.005 18 222.383
19 Jak Crawford Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:25.889 1.404 24 221.350
20 Cian Shields Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:26.432 1.947 22 219.960