Norris vs Verstappen: F1’s Ultimate Showdown Heats Up in Abu Dhabi as Russell Tops Thrilling Final Practice
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is shaping up to be a thrilling showdown as George Russell emerged fastest in a tightly contested final practice session on Saturday morning, just ahead of the all-important qualifying later in the day. The Mercedes driver was a mere 0.004 seconds faster than Lando Norris, who continues to show strong form as he aims for his first-ever Formula 1 World Championship. Max Verstappen, despite a solid lap, was 0.124 seconds off the pace, finishing in third, with Oscar Piastri in fifth. It was a session full of drama, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense qualifying and race.
Russell’s pace came despite the fact that the three title contenders—Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri—are all closely matched. With Norris only 0.004 seconds behind, and Verstappen in a solid third, the championship battle remains tight, and every tenth of a second will matter as the weekend progresses. Norris, in particular, has been consistent throughout the weekend, topping both of Friday’s practice sessions. A podium finish for him in Sunday’s race will guarantee that he becomes the 2025 F1 World Champion, regardless of where Verstappen and Piastri finish.
However, the session wasn’t without incident. Lewis Hamilton suffered a high-speed crash midway through final practice, and Ferrari faces a race against time to repair his car before the crucial qualifying session at 2 PM UK time. Meanwhile, the final practice session also saw a close call for Norris, who narrowly avoided a collision with Yuki Tsunoda. The Red Bull driver was going slowly on track toward Turn 11, forcing Norris to take evasive action and run wide. It was a potentially costly mistake, but the McLaren driver managed to avoid any damage.
Despite Russell topping the practice times, Norris remains the favorite for pole position. The McLaren driver was just 0.004s behind Russell even after a scruffy lap, proving he has the pace when it counts. Norris has a strong history at the Yas Marina Circuit, having dominated here last year. His form so far this weekend suggests he’s on course to replicate that success and make a serious bid for the title.
Verstappen, though fast, was not entirely happy with his car, citing issues with the balance, particularly the “jumping” sensation he experienced in Qatar. Yet, we know that when it counts, Verstappen has a remarkable ability to pull out a stunning lap, especially in Q3, which could make him a serious contender for pole.
Piastri, on the other hand, appears to be on the back foot. With a deficit of two to three tenths to Norris, his championship chances are slim. Sitting 16 points behind Norris and 12 behind Verstappen, Piastri’s path to the title looks increasingly difficult. He would need to rely on other results, particularly from Verstappen and Norris, to have any chance of clinching the championship.
For Verstappen, his title hopes hinge on a win and a bit of outside help, particularly from Mercedes. Russell’s pace in final practice will be encouraging for the reigning world champion, as he will need to rely on other cars to help disrupt Norris’ path to the title. If Verstappen wins, he will need Norris to finish fourth or lower to clinch his fifth world title and join an exclusive list of F1 greats.
As the pressure mounts on the title contenders, all eyes will be on qualifying later today, where every fraction of a second could have a massive impact on the championship race. With everything on the line, it promises to be a weekend of high stakes and fierce competition.
