P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Why Oscar Piastri must sit out FP1 in crucial Abu Dhabi title decider
Oscar Piastri will miss the first practice for the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix title decider. He will begin qualifying with less track time compared to his rivals, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Norris leads the championship by 12 points over Verstappen and could secure McLaren’s first title since 2008 with a third-place finish. Verstappen needs to win the race and hope Norris finishes fourth to clinch his fifth world championship. Piastri must win and rely on Norris finishing sixth or lower, facing the challenge of missing FP1. While the missed practice may initially set Piastri back, the less representative conditions of FP1 may not heavily impact his performance. The spotlight will be on Norris to defend against Verstappen in the championship finale.
