FP1 of the Abu Dhabi GP has just concluded, and here is the classification along with a summary of what happened during the first hour of activity.
It was an intense session on track, with many rookies getting the chance to drive in Abu Dhabi. This session provided all the young drivers with an important opportunity to test the Formula 1 cars. Now that FP1 is over, let’s look at the classification and a recap of the first hour of activity at the Abu Dhabi GP.
Several drivers took to the track right away for the opening free practice. A great deal of attention was focused on the rookies, who began exploring the slightly green track. Arthur Leclerc was among the first on track, fitting aero rakes on the SF-24 #39 for comparative testing ahead of the tests. While the younger Arthur Leclerc was active on the track, Charles Leclerc remained in the garage during the opening minutes due to some issues with the battery pack.
In the first 10 minutes, George Russell set the benchmark time, followed by the Haas duo, who will leave the American team’s garage at the end of the weekend. While Hulkenberg will remain in Formula 1, Magnussen has already shared details about his future plans.
A back-and-forth ensued between Russell and Norris for the top spot, with the two separated by just a tenth while running on yellow tires. After 20 minutes of troubleshooting and possible component changes, Charles’s side of the garage appeared to have identified the source of the issue and began reassembling the SF-24 #16. At the 23-minute mark, Hamilton went to the top of the timesheets, edging his teammate by just five-thousandths of a second.
Second Half Hour of FP1 Abu Dhabi
With just under 30 minutes remaining, Charles Leclerc finally took to the track for his first free practice session, beginning the process of fine-tuning the car. At the same time, the session became more interesting as several drivers switched to red tires for qualifying simulations. Lando Norris immediately set a fast lap, putting over eight-tenths between himself and Nico Hulkenberg in second place.
Despite a disrupted session, Charles Leclerc began his work in solid form. He ended up just over a second behind Norris, despite running on a different compound. FP2 promises to be very intense for Ferrari, as they will need to refine the setup during the session that matters most this weekend.
Charles Leclerc then delivered an impressive statement of intent by setting a standout lap time. He moved to the top of the timesheets with a margin of over two-tenths on Norris. This result was aided by the 41-degree track temperature and a significantly more rubbered-in surface.
Here are the final results in the first free practice session for the Abu Dhabi GP:
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