Watch FP1 highlights in Abu Dhabi as Norris leads

Lando Norris set the pace in the opening practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, narrowly besting title rival Max Verstappen by just 0.008 seconds. The McLaren driver, who requires a podium finish on Sunday to clinch his maiden Drivers' Championship, posted a 1m 24.485s lap. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc secured third, a mere 0.016s behind Norris. Despite FP1 being unrepresentative of race conditions, it provided crucial insights, with several drivers, including a spinning Leclerc, exploring the run-off areas. Notably, numerous rookies participated, such as Pato O'Ward for McLaren and Arvid Lindblad for Racing Bulls, the latter slated to join Red Bull in 2026. However, none of the debutants cracked the top ten.