McLaren dealt a devastating blow to Ferrari’s Constructors’ Championship ambitions with a commanding 1-2 finish in Friday evening’s second practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri led the pack, piling pressure on Ferrari ahead of Sunday’s season finale.
Norris Sets the Pace as Ferrari Falters
Lando Norris lit up the time sheets with a blistering 1:23.517, outpacing his teammate Piastri by 0.234 seconds. Despite showing some early promise on medium tyres, Ferrari struggled to keep pace on the soft Pirellis, with Carlos Sainz finishing fourth and Charles Leclerc a distant sixth.
McLaren’s performance underscored their superior form heading into the final race, as they protect a 21-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings.
A Session of Contrasts: Verstappen Struggles
Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen endured an uncharacteristically tough session, finishing a lowly 17th. Battling understeer and power issues, Verstappen described his car as “ridiculous” over team radio and pitted for adjustments. While his struggles are unlikely to carry into race day, the sight of Verstappen languishing near the back of the pack was a rare moment of vulnerability for Red Bull.
Ferrari’s Last Stand?
Carlos Sainz, contesting his final race weekend for Ferrari, briefly held second early on but ultimately finished 0.582 seconds off Norris’s pace. Leclerc faced mechanical checks on his car’s floor during a lull in the session and failed to recover, leaving Ferrari’s fight for second in the Constructors’ standings looking increasingly uphill.
Williams’ Woes and Hulkenberg’s Surprise
Williams faced a challenging session, with Alex Albon’s car suffering a brake fire and Franco Colapinto sidelined after damaging his floor on a kerb. In contrast, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg delivered a standout performance, taking third, just 0.462 seconds behind Norris.
Final FP2 Standings
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:23.517
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.234
- Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) +0.462
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.582
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.602
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.684
- Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) +0.713
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +0.718
- Alexander Albon (Williams) +0.752
- Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) +0.980
McLaren’s Momentum
With a strong showing in Abu Dhabi, McLaren has firmly asserted its dominance in the battle for second place. Both Norris and Piastri appear poised to deliver crucial points on Sunday, leaving Ferrari scrambling for solutions in the final moments of the 2024 Formula 1 season.