Lando Norris has emerged as the dominant force at the Yas Marina circuit, setting the fastest times by sunset in the opening practice session. Only Max Verstappen and George Russell managed to stay within four-tenths of a second of his blistering pace.
the second practice session unfolded with remarkable calm, devoid of any yellow flags. This provided a valuable possibility for drivers who missed the initial session to find their rhythm and fine-tune their car setups.
Though,not all drivers experienced a smooth transition.oscar Piastri, currently third in the championship standings, struggled to find his optimal pace. Initially dissatisfied with his car’s balance, he made adjustments to his front wing after a pit stop.Despite returning to the track, his qualifying simulation attempt was cut short, ending with a time of 1:23.763, which failed to break into the top ten.
In stark contrast, Lando Norris appears to be in peak form. Rivals suggest the Yas Marina circuit plays to his strengths, and when combined with his early advantage and strong race simulation performance, Norris has firmly established himself as the weekend’s favorite.
Max Verstappen’s race simulation pace, losing around two-tenths of a second per lap, raises concerns for his rivals, especially if norris secures pole position.Even George Russell’s race pace seems to be lagging, with Mercedes losing nearly eight-tenths per lap on the medium-hard tire compound. While some of this deficit coudl be attributed to higher fuel loads, it’s unlikely to account for the entire gap.
A surprising performance came from Ollie Bearman, who secured fourth place in the second practice. Haas, typically found at the back of the grid, showed impressive speed, leaving Bearman himself puzzled by his car’s extraordinary performance, as heard over team radio.
The imaginary third row of the grid is occupied by Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. Sauber demonstrated remarkable tire management, notably in the final sector where tire temperatures typically rise, outperforming their direct competitors.
Isack Hadjar claimed seventh place, ahead of a visibly frustrated Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver expressed dismay after practice upon learning that Norris was a full second faster in his race simulation. In a candid exchange captured over team radio, Leclerc reacted with disbelief to Norris’s pace:
Bryan Bozzi: “Norris runs 1:29.1.”
Charles Leclerc (averaging 1:30.2): “1:29,1?!”
bozzi: “Yes, he is the fastest.”
Leclerc: “Lord, tell me the times of others…”
Fernando Alonso and Kimi Antonelli rounded out the top ten.
The final practice session is scheduled for Saturday morning, followed by the crucial qualifying session in the afternoon.
Worth a look
