P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Analysing how things stand after Friday practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Lando Norris had a strong start at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, aiming for his first F1 world championship. He leads Max Verstappen by 12 points and needs a top-three finish to secure the title regardless of his rival’s performance. Norris topped both practice sessions, showcasing his potential to become McLaren’s first world champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. He outperformed Verstappen in both single-lap and long-run pace, indicating his competitiveness for the championship. Verstappen acknowledged the gap to close, while Oscar Piastri lagged behind due to missing practice and struggling with the set-up. George Russell emerged as a potential wildcard in the title battle, raising the question of single lap versus race pace importance.
