The Abu Dhabi GP weekend delivered one of the most competitive final practice sessions of the 2025 Formula 1 season, with George Russell edging Lando Norris by just four thousandths of a second at Yas Marina Circuit. As the championship battle reaches its climax under the floodlights, this session provided crucial insights into qualifying and race pace.
Session Overview: Unprecedented Closeness at Abu Dhabi GP
George Russell set the pace during the final hour of practice before qualifying, posting a lap time of 1:23.334 on soft compound tires. The Mercedes driver’s advantage over second-placed Lando Norris was microscopic—just 0.004 seconds separated the two drivers in what became one of the tightest practice sessions recorded this season.
Max Verstappen completed the top three, finishing 0.124 seconds behind Russell, while Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five. The competitive nature of this session became evident when analyzing the timing data: only 0.388 seconds covered the entire top ten, suggesting that qualifying could produce one of the closest grid formations of the entire championship.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix FP3 Results – Complete Classification
Top 10 Timings:
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:23.334
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.004s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – +0.124s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.251s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.259s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +0.271s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +0.275s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.341s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.373s
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – +0.388s
The remaining drivers completed the order with Gabriel Bortoleto, Carlos Sainz, Nico Hulkenberg, Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Pierre Gasly, Lewis Hamilton, Franco Colapinto, and Yuki Tsunoda filling positions 11 through 20.
Lewis Hamilton’s High-Speed Incident
The session was halted with 18 minutes remaining when Lewis Hamilton suffered a significant crash at Turn 9. The seven-time world champion experienced what appeared to be a mechanical failure, making contact with the barriers at high speed after losing control through the fast right-hander.
Hamilton immediately reported over team radio that something “buckled at the front and snapped the rear,” indicating a potential suspension or steering component failure rather than driver error. The impact caused considerable damage to his Ferrari, triggering a red flag period that lasted approximately eight minutes.
Medical personnel attended the scene promptly, and Hamilton walked away from the incident without assistance, confirming he was physically unharmed. However, the crash presented Ferrari with a significant challenge: repairing extensive front and rear damage within the limited timeframe before qualifying.
Technical Analysis of the Incident:
Ferrari’s mechanics faced a race against time to assess and repair multiple damaged components. The front wing, nose cone, and front suspension elements all sustained impact damage, while the rear of the car showed signs of structural stress from the spin. With qualifying scheduled just hours after the practice session concluded, the team needed to work efficiently to ensure Hamilton could participate in the crucial grid-setting session.
This incident marked another setback in what has been a challenging final season for Hamilton at Ferrari before his anticipated move to Mercedes for 2026. The crash also limited his preparation time for qualifying, as he completed only eight laps during the session before the incident occurred.
Mercedes Shows Strong Single-Lap Pace
George Russell’s performance demonstrated that Mercedes has found competitive single-lap speed at Yas Marina. The British driver’s final flying lap came during the closing minutes of the session when track conditions were optimal, showcasing the W16’s capability over a single timed lap.
Russell’s teammate, Kimi Antonelli, also showed promising pace, finishing ninth overall and within four-tenths of his experienced teammate. The rookie driver has consistently improved throughout his debut season and appears comfortable with the high-speed characteristics of Yas Marina Circuit.
However, Mercedes’ practice session wasn’t without incident. The team released Antonelli from his pit box directly into the path of Yuki Tsunoda, resulting in contact that damaged both cars. The collision ended Tsunoda’s session prematurely and prompted an investigation by race stewards for an unsafe release.
Long-Run Performance Questions:
While Mercedes demonstrated strong qualifying simulation pace, their race-run data from earlier practice sessions suggested potential tire degradation concerns. Track position will be crucial in Sunday’s race, making qualifying performance even more critical for the team’s chances of a strong result.
McLaren’s Championship Position and Performance
Lando Norris arrived at Yas Marina Circuit holding a 12-point advantage over Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship. His second-place finish in final practice, combined with consistently strong pace throughout Friday’s sessions, positioned him as a genuine contender for pole position.
The British driver had topped both FP1 and FP2 on Friday, demonstrating excellent one-lap speed and competitive race pace. However, Norris reported some handling challenges during his qualifying simulation runs, particularly experiencing oversteer through the final sector of the lap.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, showed strong progression throughout the session. After a slower start, Piastri improved significantly on fresh soft tires following the red flag period, ultimately finishing fifth and within three-tenths of Russell’s benchmark time.
Championship Mathematics:
Norris needs to finish in the top three positions on Sunday to guarantee his first world championship, regardless of where Verstappen finishes. This scenario creates strategic considerations for both McLaren and Red Bull Racing as they approach qualifying and race setup decisions.
McLaren also leads the constructors’ championship and could secure their first teams’ title since 1998 with a strong performance this weekend. The team’s consistent pace across all three practice sessions suggests they have genuine opportunities in both championship battles.
Red Bull Racing and Verstappen’s Qualifying Prospects
Max Verstappen finished third in final practice, just over a tenth behind Russell. The three-time world champion and his team have historically shown the ability to improve their competitive position as sessions progress, often finding additional performance for qualifying compared to practice pace.
Red Bull Racing’s car demonstrated strong traction out of slow-speed corners, a characteristic that could prove advantageous in the final sector of Yas Marina Circuit. Verstappen’s experience in high-pressure championship-deciding situations also represents a significant intangible advantage as the weekend progresses.
Strategic Considerations:
Verstappen’s championship position requires him to outscore Norris by 13 points to win his fourth consecutive title. This mathematical scenario means Verstappen must win the race while hoping Norris finishes fourth or lower—a challenging but achievable scenario given the tight competition demonstrated in practice.
Haas Continues Impressive Form
One of the season’s most surprising storylines continued at Yas Marina, with Haas demonstrating genuinely competitive pace. Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman finished sixth and seventh respectively, both within three-tenths of the fastest time.
The American team’s recent upgrade package has delivered measurable improvements in traction and rear stability, particularly evident through the final sector where both Haas drivers showed strong sector times. This performance level represents a remarkable transformation for a team that struggled significantly during the early part of the season.
Bearman’s Rookie Performance:
Oliver Bearman, competing in his first full season, has shown consistent improvement throughout 2025. His seventh-place finish in final practice, ahead of both Ferraris and matching the pace of more experienced drivers, demonstrates the progress he has made throughout the year.
Track Conditions and Qualifying Preview
Yas Marina Circuit’s unique twilight schedule means that track temperatures and grip levels change significantly as sessions progress from daylight into darkness. Final practice took place under similar conditions to qualifying, providing teams with valuable data for their setup decisions.
Key Factors for Qualifying:
Surface temperature dropped approximately three degrees Celsius during the final 20 minutes of practice, affecting tire warm-up and peak performance windows. Teams that can efficiently bring their tires into the optimal operating window during their out-laps will have a significant advantage in qualifying.
The circuit’s long straights place premium importance on straight-line speed and drag reduction, while the numerous slow-speed corners require strong mechanical grip and traction. Finding the optimal aerodynamic balance between these competing requirements has proven challenging for several teams.
Wind conditions remained relatively stable throughout the session, with light breezes from the northeast. These conditions are expected to remain consistent for qualifying, reducing the variability factor that can sometimes affect lap times at other circuits.
Ferrari’s Race Against Time
Beyond Hamilton’s crash, Ferrari faces broader concerns about their competitive position this weekend. Charles Leclerc finished eighth in final practice, nearly four-tenths behind the fastest time—a significant gap considering the overall closeness of the field.
The Italian team’s struggles appear related to tire temperature management and finding the optimal setup window. Both drivers reported inconsistent rear grip during their practice runs, suggesting the car is sensitive to setup changes and track condition variations.
Mechanical Team Response:
Ferrari’s mechanics demonstrated their expertise under pressure following Hamilton’s crash. The team has extensive experience managing rapid repairs between sessions, and their systematic approach to component replacement suggested confidence in having the car ready for qualifying.
However, the limited time between the crash and qualifying meant that Ferrari could not conduct extensive systems checks or setup modifications based on feedback from the repaired car. This situation potentially puts Hamilton at a disadvantage compared to rivals who completed uninterrupted practice programs.
Aston Martin’s Competitive Showing
Fernando Alonso delivered an impressive performance to finish fourth, continuing Aston Martin’s recent upturn in form. The two-time world champion’s experience at Yas Marina Circuit—where he has competed since the venue joined the calendar in 2009—clearly benefits his ability to extract maximum performance from the AMR-B25.
Lance Stroll finished 14th, nearly six-tenths behind his teammate, highlighting the performance gap that has characterized much of Aston Martin’s season. The Canadian driver struggled with front-end grip during his qualifying simulation runs and was unable to match Alonso’s pace throughout the session.
Williams Racing’s Preparation
Carlos Sainz finished 12th for Williams, continuing his adjustment period with the team after joining from Ferrari. The Spanish driver has shown flashes of competitive pace but hasn’t yet consistently matched the performance levels of the midfield’s strongest competitors.
Alexander Albon finished 10th, representing Williams’ best result of the session. The Thai-British driver has consistently outperformed team expectations throughout 2025 and appears comfortable with the FW47’s handling characteristics at Yas Marina.
Alpine’s Challenging Session
Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto finished 17th and 19th respectively for Alpine, continuing the French team’s difficult season. Both drivers struggled with overall grip levels and were unable to match the pace of the midfield battle.
The team’s focus has shifted toward 2026 development, with limited upgrade components available for the final races of this season. This strategic decision reflects Alpine’s long-term planning but results in reduced competitiveness for the remaining championship rounds.
Kick Sauber’s End-of-Season Form
Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg finished 11th and 13th for Kick Sauber, demonstrating modest pace improvements compared to earlier races. The Swiss-based team has focused on providing Bortoleto with extensive track time during his rookie season, prioritizing driver development over immediate performance gains.
Racing Bulls’ Mixed Session
Liam Lawson finished 15th while Yuki Tsunoda completed only 10 laps before his pit lane collision with Antonelli ended his session. The Red Bull junior team has shown competitive pace at certain circuits this season but appears to struggle with Yas Marina’s specific characteristics.
Incident Impact:
Tsunoda’s premature session end limited his qualifying preparation and potentially affects his grid position prospects. The collision damage required component replacements that consumed valuable preparation time before qualifying.
Qualifying Predictions and Expectations
The exceptionally close practice times suggest qualifying could produce one of the tightest grid formations of the season. Historical data from Yas Marina shows that pole position has been decided by margins of less than two-tenths in six of the last eight years, indicating that small advantages translate into significant grid position changes.
Predicted Competitive Order:
Mercedes and McLaren appear to hold slight single-lap advantages based on practice pace, with Red Bull Racing likely to improve as grip levels increase during qualifying. Ferrari faces an uphill battle to reach the front two rows unless they discover significant setup improvements.
The midfield battle between Aston Martin, Haas, and Williams promises to be intensely competitive, with small margins determining whether teams reach Q3 or are eliminated in Q2.
Weather and Track Evolution:
Meteorological forecasts predict stable conditions with minimal wind variation—ideal circumstances for close competition. Track evolution typically improves grip levels by 0.3-0.5 seconds between qualifying’s three segments, making Q3 progression crucial for optimizing grid positions.
Championship Implications and Strategic Considerations
This qualifying session carries enormous championship significance. Norris’s 12-point advantage means he can afford to finish second even if Verstappen wins, provided he qualifies competitively and avoids first-lap incidents.
McLaren’s constructors’ championship lead means the team must balance individual driver priorities with maximizing overall team points. Strategic decisions regarding tow assistance and optimal tire preparation could influence both championship battles.
Risk Management:
Both championship contenders must balance aggressive qualifying performance with risk mitigation. A strong starting position significantly influences race outcomes at Yas Marina, where overtaking opportunities are limited despite DRS zones and long straights.
Technical Analysis: Tire Strategy Considerations
Pirelli’s tire allocation for this weekend includes C3, C4, and C5 compounds—the softest combination available. Degradation rates observed during long-run simulations in FP2 suggest that two-stop strategies could be viable, though most teams currently plan single-stop approaches.
Compound Performance Windows:
The C5 soft compound reached optimal operating temperature within half a lap during practice, making it ideal for qualifying. However, thermal degradation appeared after five to six laps during race simulation runs, suggesting limited stint lengths if used during the race.
Medium compound durability looked strong during long-run analysis, with consistent lap times maintained for 20-lap stints. This performance profile makes the C4 medium the likely race tire for the majority of competitors.
Conclusion: Setting the Stage for Championship Drama
Final practice at Yas Marina Circuit delivered exactly the competitive session Formula 1 fans hoped for ahead of a potential championship-deciding weekend. The microscopic gaps between the fastest drivers suggest qualifying will determine race outcomes, with track position proving difficult to overcome during Sunday’s grand prix.
Russell’s strong pace gives Mercedes genuine podium aspirations, while Norris and McLaren appear well-positioned to secure the championship results they need. Verstappen and Red Bull Racing face a challenging task but possess both the speed and experience to capitalize on any opportunities.
Hamilton’s crash adds uncertainty to Ferrari’s preparations and symbolizes the broader challenges the Italian team has faced throughout this transitional season. Meanwhile, Haas’s continued competitiveness and Aston Martin’s resurgence add intrigue to the midfield battle.
As the Formula 1 paddock prepares for qualifying under the Yas Marina floodlights, the stage is set for one of the season’s most significant sessions—where championship dreams will move closer to reality or slip frustratingly away.