Russell tops FP3 in Abu Dhabi by 0.004s over Norris as Hamilton crashes and Verstappen takes third. Piastri climbs to P5 in a tight session ahead of crucial qualifying.
Norris tops FP2 again in Abu Dhabi, 0.363s clear of Verstappen, with Russell P3. Piastri returns after missing FP1 and finishes only 11th as title tension builds under the lights.
Norris leads Verstappen by 0.008s in FP1 as Abu Dhabi’s title-decider opens with nine rookies on track. Piastri sits out, O’Ward runs, and Bearman retires with a sensor issue.
After a dramatic swing in momentum at the Qatar Grand Prix, the title fight is heading to a three-way showdown in the season finale.
Round 23 of the 2025 F1 season headed to the Middle East for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2025.
Title contender Oscar Piastri took pole by one tenth from title leader Lando Norris in P2 with Max Verstappen lining up third on the grid.
Piastri dominates the Qatar Sprint from pole, beating Russell and Norris as Verstappen finishes fourth with porpoising issues. Tsunoda and Antonelli swap places after penalties.
Piastri on pole for the Sprint, beating Russell by just 0.032s. Norris in third ahead of Alonso, Tsunoda in fifth ahead of Verstappen.
Lando Norris failed to improve on his second performance run, but Oscar Piastri finds a big chunk of time to move above his team-mate to finish P1 in first practice.
McLaren say unexpected porpoising caused their Vegas DSQ, not risky setup. Norris and Piastri stay positive, aiming to reset and fight back in Qatar as title pressure builds.