Breaking: Verstappen NIGHTMARE at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after major FIA penalty and…read more
Verstappen NIGHTMARE at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after major FIA penalty and…read more
Max Verstappen faced a challenging FP2 session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, finishing a surprising 17th after persistent understeer issues plagued his Red Bull. The four-time world champion’s difficulties came on a day when McLaren shone, with Lando Norris clocking the fastest lap, closely followed by teammate Oscar Piastri.
McLaren’s strong performance further solidified their ongoing rivalry with Ferrari. Norris led the pack with a 1:23.517 lap, while Piastri trailed by just 0.234 seconds. Nico Hulkenberg of Haas rounded out the top three, delivering a standout result as he closes out his final weekend with the team. Haas remains in a tight battle for sixth in the constructors’ championship, making Hulkenberg’s performance particularly significant.
Ferrari endured mixed fortunes. Carlos Sainz managed fourth fastest, but Charles Leclerc’s sixth-place finish was overshadowed by a significant setback: a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race. Leclerc’s car required a new battery pack, exceeding the permitted allocation, further complicating Ferrari’s race strategy.
Mercedes had a steady session, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth, just 0.602 seconds behind Norris, and George Russell down in 13th. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas impressed for Kick Sauber, taking seventh, while his teammate Zhou Guanyu secured 15th. Kevin Magnussen also delivered for Haas, finishing eighth.
Further down the grid, Franco Colapinto of Williams endured a frustrating session. The Argentine rookie suffered damage after running wide at Turn Eight, forcing him to retire early and leaving him last in the standings without a representative lap on soft tyres.
Red Bull’s struggles extended beyond Verstappen, with Sergio Perez only managing 14th. Aston Martin had another quiet session as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll ended 16th and 18th, respectively. Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Williams’ Alex Albon showcased flashes of potential, but neither broke into the top tier.
F1 FP2 Results: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024
1. Lando Norris [McLaren] – 1:23.517secs
2. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – +0.234
3. Nico Hulkenberg [Haas] – +0.462
4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] – +0.582
5. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] +0.602
6. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +0.684
7. Valtteri Bottas [Kick Sauber] – +0.713
8. Kevin Magnussen [Haas] – +0.718
9. Alex Albon [Williams] – +0.752
10. Yuki Tsunoda [VCARB] – +0.980
11. Liam Lawson [VCARB] – +0.986
12. Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +1.000
13. George Russell [Mercedes] – +1.017
14. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] – +1.038
15. Zhou Guanyu [Kick Sauber] – +1.040
16. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – +1.057
17. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +1.081
18. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +1.169
19. Jack Doohan [Alpine] – +1.444
20. Franco Colapinto [Williams] – +1.748
Who is the current F1 world champion?
Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, having now secured four-consecutive titles.
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