Max Verstappen NIGHTMARE at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after major

Max Verstappen NIGHTMARE at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after major FIA penalty…….read more

Max Verstappen endured a tough session during Friday’s second practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he finished a disappointing 17th after facing major issues with his Red Bull car. The four-time world champion expressed frustration over a significant understeer problem throughout the session, which hindered his performance. Despite his efforts, Verstappen could not make any headway, finishing more than a second off the fastest time, and his result marked a major contrast to his usual dominance.

Meanwhile, McLaren enjoyed a strong performance during FP2. Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver, clocking a best time of 1:23.517. He was closely followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri, who was just 0.234 seconds behind. This solid showing from McLaren highlights their competitiveness this season, with both drivers finishing ahead of several top teams, including Ferrari and Mercedes.

The session was also marked by a tough break for Ferrari. While Carlos Sainz put in a strong effort to finish fourth, just 0.582 seconds behind Norris, the team faced further setbacks. Charles Leclerc, who was sixth, will face a 10-place grid penalty for the upcoming race due to an issue with his car’s battery pack. Ferrari had changed the battery pack on Leclerc’s car outside of his allotted limit, resulting in the penalty. This decision added to the team’s challenges as they look to improve their performance in the final races of the season.

Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg had a standout performance, completing the top three with a strong lap time just 0.462 seconds behind Norris. This was an important result for Hülkenberg, especially as it marks his final weekend with Haas. The team is still in a battle for sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, and Hülkenberg’s performance could prove vital in their push for that position.

In another setback for the weekend, Franco Colapinto from Williams had a nightmare session. The Argentine driver was forced to retire to the garage early after damaging his car when he ran wide over the kerb at Turn Eight. Colapinto’s crash left him unable to set a time on the soft tyres, and he ended the session in last place, over a second behind the next slowest driver, Jack Doohan. It was a disappointing result for the rookie, who has faced a challenging season.

Other notable results included Lewis Hamilton, who finished in fifth for Mercedes, just 0.602 seconds behind Norris. Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell, had a slightly less impressive session, finishing 13th, 1.017 seconds off the pace. The two Mercedes drivers will look to improve their pace in the final practice sessions before qualifying.

Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen finished in seventh and eighth, respectively, showing that both Alfa Romeo and Haas were competitive during the session. Alex Albon of Williams also delivered a solid performance, finishing in ninth, while Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri rounded out the top 10.

Despite Verstappen’s struggles, he remains the dominant force in F1, having secured four consecutive world championships. His underperformance in FP2 was largely due to car issues, which are not typical for the Red Bull driver, who has been virtually unbeatable throughout the season. The Red Bull team will be hoping for a stronger showing from him in qualifying, where he will look to bounce back from this rare setback.

The second practice session set the stage for an exciting weekend in Abu Dhabi, with McLaren showing impressive pace and the ever-competitive teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull all aiming to get the best out of their cars. As the final race of the season approaches, every team will be looking to close out the year with a strong result, while Verstappen will be determined to end his dominant season with another victory.

With a mixture of penalties, impressive performances, and driver challenges, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix promises to deliver more drama as the weekend unfolds. Verstappen’s nightmare in FP2 serves as a reminder that even the most dominant drivers face challenges, but with his skill and determination, he will no doubt be aiming for a strong comeback.