F1: Lando Norris leads FP1 in Abu Dhabi with a grid of nine rookies; Bortoleto is 7th By Thiago Lemos
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Lando The McLaren driver recorded 1m24s485 and was 0s008 ahead of Max Verstappen, from Red Bull. Charles Leclerc, from Ferrari, completed the top 3.
The session featured nine rookie drivers fulfilling the mandatory FIA regulations, which require two free sessions per car for young people during the season. Gabriel Bortoleto, Brazilian from Sauber, finished in seventh place, 0s257 behind the leader.
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 1:24.485
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): +0s008
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0s016
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber): 7th place (+0s257)
FP1 CLASSIFICATION
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The full rundown from first practice 👇#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/eNyAtJm1AE
Nine newcomers are present in Yas Marina
Teams complied with the FIA rule that determines the participation of drivers with a maximum of two career starts in at least two free sessions throughout the year. Most left the freshmen for the last stage of the 2025 season.
Ryo Hirakawa debuted for Haas and finished 11th. Pato O’Ward replaced Oscar Piastri at McLaren and placed 14th. Outros rookies like Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull), Ayumu Iwasa (RB) and Luke Browning (Williams) also participated.
Performance of Gabriel Bortoleto in the session
The Brazilian started training on hard tires and set the 12th best time. As the track improved, he rose to 11th and provisionally led.
In the final third, with soft tires, Bortoleto recorded 1m24s742 and secured seventh position. The time was just 0s113 behind Nico Hülkenberg, holder of Sauber.
The 20-year-old driver’s return demonstrated quick adaptation to the Swiss team’s current car. Bortoleto will hold Sauber in 2026.
Highlights among regular riders
Max Verstappen used soft tires at the end and was just 0s008 behind Norris. The Dutchman, already four-time champion, tested different compounds during the session.
Charles Leclerc completed the leading trio with 1m24s501. George Russell, from Mercedes, finished in sixth place, just ahead of Bortoleto.
Kimi Antonelli, debutant from Mercedes in 2025, set the fourth fastest time. The Italian was 0s123 behind the leader.
Intense movement at the beginning of training
Pato O’Ward started at the top with McLaren, but was soon overtaken by Verstappen and Norris. George Russell came close to the mark on hard tires.
Carlos Sainz, now at Williams, appeared among the first with hard compounds. Nico Hülkenberg also temporarily led on medium tires.
Isack Hadjar, from RB, took the lead before the soft teams entered the leaders. The switch to the faster compound set the final times.
Return of starters for the second training session
All regular drivers return to their cars in FP2, scheduled for 10am (Abu Dhabi local time). The session will be important for defining correct answers before classification.
McLaren chose to keep Norris and Piastri until the last GP for the obligation with O’Ward. The team is fighting for the constructors’ title and didn’t want to give up its starters beforehand.
The last stage of the 2025 season decides the constructors’ championship. McLaren leads Ferrari by 24 points heading into the weekend.
Complete FP1 grid in Abu Dhabi
The 20 drivers completed valid laps in the 60-minute session. The difference between first and last was 1s947.
Cian Shields, from Aston Martin, recorded the 20th time. Jak Crawford, a teammate, was just ahead in 19th.
Oliver Bearman, reserve for Ferrari who will race for Haas in 2026, finished in eighth place.
