Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Norris fastest in second free practice session

(Abu Dhabi) Lando Norris (McLaren-Mercedes) set the best time in the second free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 24^e and final round of the Formula 1 World Championship, Friday on the Yas Marina circuit (5.281 km) in Abu Dhabi.

The Briton, second in the first session a few hours earlier, this time finished at the top of the timesheet and was ahead of his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri and the surprising German Nico Hülkenberg (Haas).

Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) took fourth place, ahead of seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who had dominated the first free practice sessions.

The Monegasque will receive a ten-place penalty on the starting grid on Sunday after a battery change, thus compromising the Scuderia’s chances of snatching the constructors’ title now promised to McLaren, which is 21 lengths ahead while 44 points maximum remains to be taken.

The Top 10 is completed by the Finn Valtteri Bottas (Sauber), the Dane Kevin Magnussen (Haas), the Thai Alexander Albon (Williams-Mercedes) and the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls).

Dutch quadruple world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who left his car to French rookie Isack Hadjar during the first practice session, only achieved 17^e chrono after complaining of front axle problems.

Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpine) took 12^e place, just ahead of Briton George Russell (Mercedes), while Australian rookie Jack Doohan finished 19^e and penultimate at the wheel of the second Alpine single-seater, as during the first run of the day.

A third free practice session is scheduled for Saturday early afternoon (2:30 p.m. local), before qualifying which will be held at night (6 p.m. local).