McLaren dominate Abu Dhabi practice

AFP | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

McLaren’s British driver Lando Norris showcased his team’s impressive pace during the second practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, clocking the fastest time at the Yas Marina Circuit yesterday. Norris led his Australian teammate, Oscar Piastri, by two-tenths of a second, with Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg finishing third.

The strong performance bolsters McLaren’s hopes of securing their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998. They currently hold a 21-point lead over Ferrari, whose aspirations suffered a setback after Charles Leclerc incurred a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his battery pack allocation.

“We still have a tough fight tomorrow,” said Norris, acknowledging the competition. “It probably looks better than it is for us. We’ve continued the good pace we had from Qatar, but the others haven’t turned up their engines yet.”

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz managed the fourth-fastest time, followed by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is competing in his final race weekend with Mercedes. Leclerc finished sixth but will face an uphill battle on race day due to his penalty.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marks the season finale, with McLaren aiming to end Ferrari’s bid to claim their first Constructors’ title since 2008. Ferrari must overturn a 21-point deficit, a challenge that Leclerc admitted would require “something special.”

Further down the grid, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen struggled with balance issues, finishing 17th. “The balance is off, and there’s no connection in mid-corner,” said Verstappen, who recently announced he is expecting his first child with Kelly Piquet.

The final race weekend promises high-stakes drama, with McLaren and Ferrari leaving no stone unturned in their quest for championship glory.