Formula 1 is preparing to face the last weekend of the season with the FP1 of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, stage that marks the conclusion of the world championship. After the crazy nights in Las Vegas it's back to good old normality. We have reached the end of a long season characterized by the dominance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Their superiority has guaranteed them the position of undisputed leaders, and has earned them two world titles and second place in drivers ranking conquered by Perez, now mathematically safe after a difficult period. Only one GP, that of Singapore, was won by a team other than Red Bull. However, there is anticipation for the last round of the world championship, an opportunity that many will want to seize.
Verstappen, after breaking every record, will try to surpass Sebastian Vettel in total victories, McLaren wants to end the season by returning to a podium after a really difficult start and a season on the rise. Ferrari, still struggling with the damage caused by the manhole in Las Vegas, and Mercedes, will fight for second position in the championship. The bottom half of the table also sees a challenge that promises emotions, with Williams, AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo and Haas ready to attack the points zone to overtake their opponents. An interesting challenge also from a Fanta F1 perspective. AlphaTauri arrives in Abu Dhabi with new updates to try to catch up with Williams. Alfa Romeo didn't come empty-handed either, bringing a new front wing to the C43.
For the last weekend of the year, Pirelli brought the softest compounds of the selection to Yas Marina.
Half the grid changes
In the first free practice session, half the grid will be occupied by new faces due to the obligations of making their debuts rookie in at least two free practice sessions during the season. Red Bull will give up both seats to two rookies: Jake Dennis, who will have the opportunity to drive the car of world champion Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Mercedes will give Hamilton's W14 to Frederick Vesti, while Robert Shwartzman will return to Ferrari. Other names include Patricio “Pato” O'Ward with McLaren, Felipe Drugovich with Aston Martin. At Alpine, Jack Doohan will take to the track instead of Ocon, while Zak O'Sullivan will take to the track at Williams. Last but not least Theo Pourchaire with Alfa Romeo and Oliver Bearman with Haas.
With a session made up partly of rookies, many of the values will not come to light after the first few laps. Furthermore, the time difference between FP1 in Abu Dhabi and the sessions that count, namely qualifying and the race, makes the ranking of this session less indicative. But let's see what happened in FP1 in Abu Dhabi. We remind you that after this session the F2 cars will take to the track with some of the drivers already in action now, with the F1.
McLaren powered by Mercedes until 2030
While the drivers are starting to get familiar with the track, one arrives from the paddock news very important from a market perspective. McLaren has made it official that it will continue to use a Mercedes engine until 2030. The two teams had an agreement valid until 2025. However, McLaren and Mercedes have moved to conclude quickly ahead of the 2026 regulation change. An important extension of this collaboration which is useful to both parties and which puts an end to rumors of a possible change for the Woking team. Mercedes will continue to supply only the engine to McLaren which focuses on continuity and stability.
Lots of different tests and work in FP1 in Abu Dhabi
With the single-seaters entrusted to young people with little or no experience in Formula 1 the teams were able to range between different tools, with rakes, paint and other solutions that made this session a real test. After almost half an hour, in the middle of the session George Russell dictated the pace with the averages and a time of 1:26.313, followed by Ricciardo at +0.955 and Tsunoda at +1.061, again with the yellows and Sainz at +1.190 with the softs. The two Ferrari drivers are the only ones on the track with the soft tires. For once no one will have to worry about the Red Bulls, both in the hands of two rookies.
Shwartzman's first flying lap on the SF-23 ended with a 1:28.1 which earned him twelfth place. Pourchaire instead complains about Alfa Romeo, a brand that will say goodbye to Formula 1 after this GP: “I had a big bounce in the curve 2-3″. Chills in the meantime for Doohan, at risk of collision with Sargeant who with his lap on the soft tires secured second place. This episode will be investigated at the end of the session. With 28 minutes to go, other teams begin to mount the soft tires. Even with this compound Russell confirms himself as the fastest, with a time of 1:26.081. Vesti is not far behind his teammate, with a delay of +1.017 on Russell's time.
Russell the fastest
With less than 20 minutes to go the youngsters also start pushing, looking for the limit. One of them fits into the top 5 made up of Russell, Piastri, Gasly, Sargeant, Vesti. Different job in Ferrari, further away with Sainz and Shwartzman. With 15 minutes remaining, the two Red Bulls had not yet set a time with the reds. The first to do so was Dennis who, 12 minutes from the end, placed himself in tenth position. At the end of the session the top 5 sees Russell in the lead, followed by Drugovich, Ricciardo, Bottas and Stroll. He is unable to attack Russell Sainz's time, forced to tail off at the last corner. FP2, which will see the return of all 20 official drivers, will start at 14:00 pm.
