Grand Prix

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025: FP1 Results And Report

Check out the full results and report from first practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Ewan Gale|
Lando Norris
Lando Norris | McLaren Racing

Lando Norris got his Abu Dhabi Grand Prix off to the best possible start by setting the fastest time in first practice at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The McLaren driver set a benchmark of 1:24.485s to finish only 0.008s ahead of rival Max Verstappen.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was third, just 0.016s off the fastest time, though more will be taken from second practice under the lights later on in the day.

Rookie runs take over

Nine drivers vacated their seats for the session as teams set out to complete their obligations to run a rookie driver in two sessions per car for the season - Oscar Piastri among those to stand aside.

Paul Aron was in for Pierre Gasly at Alpine and almost came to grief in the opening 10 minutes of the hour, catching a swap of the rear end out of the final corner.

Almost a third into the session, Oliver Bearman reported a loss of power and though he was told he had a hydraulic leak, he was able to change gears while crawling back to the pits.

The Haas driver did make it back onto the circuit, but was told to box again with what was apparently the same problem, though it was later confirmed as a sensor-related issue.

Arthur Leclerc joined brother Charles Leclerc on track for Ferrari, 12 months on from the first time he did so, but almost got it wrong with a slide at Turn 12 that took him off-track. The latter completed a full spin at Turn 5 in the closing stages of the session, with Arthur comically telling his engineer that Charles was "doing burnouts for the fans".

Arthur Leclerc, Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari

With lap times set in the unrepresentative, warmer afternoon conditions, drivers were able to complete multiple flying laps on soft tires to provide an indication of what could be possible under the floodlights on Saturday night in qualifying.

At the end of the session it was Norris who was ahead of Verstappen and Charles Leclerc by the narrowest of margins, setting up the weekend nicely.

Kimi Antonelli was fourth fastest while also demonstrating good high-fuel pace in the Mercedes, with Nico Hulkenberg looking rapid in fifth.

The second Mercedes and Sauber followed, George Russell ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto, while Bearman's medium tire run was good enough for eighth.

Carlos Sainz was ninth having complained about braking issues in his Williams, with Franco Colapinto 10th for Alpine.

Ryo Hirakawa was fastest of the rookies in the Haas, faster even than newly-confirmed Red Bull driver for 2026 Isack Hadjar.

Aron was 13th ahead of Piastri's FP1 replacement Patricio O'Ward and 2026 Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who was in Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull.

Arthur Leclerc was 16th fastest with Ayumu Iwasa 17th in the Racing Bull and Luke Browning's Williams in 18th.

Aston Martin used two rookies in FP1, with 2026 reserve driver Jak Crawford faster than debutant Cian Shields.

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025: FP1 results

Position / Driver / Team

Gap [s]

1. Lando Norris / McLaren

1:24.485

2. Max Verstappen / Red Bull

+0.008

3. Charles Leclerc / Ferrari

+0.016

4. Kimi Antonelli / Mercedes

+0.123

5. Nico Hulkenberg / Sauber

+0.144

6. George Russell / Mercedes

+0.248

7. Gabriel Bortoleto / Sauber

+0.257

8. Oliver Bearman / Haas

+0.274

9. Carlos Sainz / Williams

+0.285

10. Franco Colapinto / Alpine

+0.370

11. Ryo Hirakawa / Haas

+0.449

12. Isack Hadjar / Racing Bulls

+0.492

13. Paul Aron / Alpine

+0.719

14. Patricio O'Ward / McLaren

+0.761

15. Arvid Lindblad / Red Bull

+0.771

16. Arthur Leclerc / Ferrari

+0.875

17. Ayumu Iwasa / Racing Bulls

+0.990

18. Luke Browning / Williams

+1.005

19. Jak Crawford / Aston Martin

+1.404

20. Cian Shields / Aston Martin

+1.947

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Ewan Gale
EWAN GALE

Ewan is a motorsport journalist covering F1 for Grand Prix On SI. Having been educated at Silverstone, the home of the British Grand Prix, and subsequently graduating from university with a sports journalism degree, Ewan made a move into F1 in 2021. Ewan joins after a stint with Autosport as an editor, having written for a number of outlets including RacingNews365 and GPFans, during which time he has covered grand prix and car launches as an accredited member of the media.

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