Norris Tops Verstappen in Abu Dhabi FP1 as Leclerc Shows Pace
abu Dhabi, UAE – Lando Norris set the fastest time in Free Practice 1 for the abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out championship leader Max Verstappen, while charles Leclerc demonstrated strong recovery pace.the session,featuring a important number of rookie and reserve drivers,provided initial insights ahead of the final race of the 2023 formula 1 season.
With several regular drivers sidelined for the opening practice, the session primarily served as preparation for Sunday’s race, but offered a glimpse into potential performance. norris’s performance is a positive sign for McLaren as they aim to close the gap to Red Bull, while Leclerc’s third-place finish signals a potential resurgence for Ferrari after a challenging Qatar Grand Prix. The session also highlighted the promising performance of the Sauber team in their final race under that name before transitioning to Audi in 2026.
French driver Isack hadjar faced a tough start to the weekend, finishing 12th in the session. It remains to be seen if this reflects underlying performance issues or a specific program tailored for the race.
Here’s the full ranking from Free Practice 1:
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Charles Leclerc - Scuderia Ferrari
- Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
- Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber
- George Russell – Mercedes
- Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber
- Oliver Bearman – Haas
- Carlos Sainz – Williams
- Franco Colapinto – Alpine
- Ryo Hirakawa – Haas
- Isack Hadjar - Racing Bulls
- Paul Aron - Alpine
- Pato O’Ward – McLaren
- Arvid Lindblad – Red Bull
- Arthur Leclerc – Scuderia Ferrari
- Ayu - Racing Bills
- Luke Browning - Williams
- Jak Crawford – Aston Martin
- Cian shields - Aston Martin
Credit photo : getty images / Red Bull Content Pool.
