2025 Abu Dhabi FP1 sector analysis: Ferrari SF-25 solid in Yas Marina third sector. Full sector rankings, lap times and year-on-year comparisons..

Abu Dhabi GP FP1 2025: Red Bull dominates sectors, Ferrari lags in S1 but holds steady overall

The curtain-raiser for the 2025 Formula 1 season finale delivered a tantalising glimpse of the title fight to come. McLaren edged the overall timesheets in FP1 at Yas Marina, but Red Bull’s sector supremacy – led by Max Verstappen – signals a razor-tight battle ahead. With Lando Norris, Verstappen and Oscar Piastri separated by just 16 points entering the weekend, every tenth counts.

Ferrari, running a double Leclerc line-up with Arthur replacing Lewis Hamilton, posted the third-fastest time overall via Charles but highlighted familiar weaknesses in the opening sector. Here’s the full breakdown from the session, including sector rankings, top driver times and year-on-year comparisons.

Team sector rankings: Red Bull’s total control

Red Bull was untouchable across the board, topping S1 and S2 while Verstappen’s ideal lap of 1:24.389 was the session benchmark. Sauber surprised in S3 with Nico Hülkenberg’s purple sector, but Ferrari’s strength in the final split – courtesy of Charles – kept them competitive overall.

Top 10 driver sector times: Verstappen untouchable

Max Verstappen stamped his authority on the session, topping S1, S2 and his ideal lap. Charles Leclerc was Ferrari’s star, nabbing third in S2 and S3, while Arthur Leclerc – in for Hamilton – focused on data collection in P16 overall.

Best lap times by team: McLaren leads, Ferrari close

McLaren set the pace with 1:24.485, but Red Bull’s 1:24.493 was just 0.008s off. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc clocked 1:24.501 for third, showing the SF-25’s potential in a clean session.

2025 vs 2024 lap time comparison: Ferrari the outlier

Times were generally quicker this year, with Red Bull a massive 0.990s faster than 2024. Ferrari bucked the trend, 0.180s slower – likely due to setup conservatism and the SF-25’s known limitations in cooler conditions.

Key insights: Ferrari’s mixed bag with double Leclerc duty

Ferrari’s FP1 was a tale of two sectors. The team ranked fourth in S1 (+0.058s) but third in S3 (+0.044s), where Charles Leclerc excelled with sharp traction out of the low-speed chicanes. This plays to the SF-25’s strengths in rear-limited corners, but the S1 weakness – a familiar understeer issue in the flowing Turn 1-4 complex – cost them dearly in the overall ideal lap (fourth-fastest at +0.089s to McLaren).

Charles Leclerc topped the Ferrari effort with a 1:24.501 on softs, nabbing third in S2 and S3 – a clear sign the car suits Yas Marina’s layout better than Qatar’s tyre-killing surface. Arthur Leclerc, in Hamilton’s car, focused on mileage rather than headlines, ending P16 but providing invaluable data on setup tweaks. His S3 time was respectable (+0.370s), suggesting the brothers’ feedback aligned well.

Year-on-year, Ferrari’s +0.180s delta raises eyebrows – most rivals shaved nearly a second, pointing to the SF-25’s development freeze biting hard. Still, with three podiums in the last three Abu Dhabis, Charles could drag the car to another strong showing if the balance clicks in FP2.

For the title protagonists, Verstappen’s sector sweep bodes well for his comeback bid, while Norris’s P2 in S3 keeps McLaren in the hunt. Expect fireworks as temperatures drop for the evening session.