F1 Abu Dhabi GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP2
Minute-by-minute updates for FP2 for the 2024 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The F1 season reaches a climax in Abu Dhabi with McLaren and Ferrari set to battle it out for glory on the constructors' championship.
Off-track, a war of words between Max Verstappen and George Russell has stolen the spotlight from drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, who are either racing with teams for the last time or are making potentially their final appearance in the category.
Charles Leclerc topped first practice but picked up a 10-place grid penalty for a battery change.
Second practice gets under way at 1:00pm GMT.
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And with that, it's time to take a break before final practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which begins at 10:30 GMT on Saturday morning.
A frustrating FP2 for Red Bull
Ferrari is firmly on the backfoot in its constructors' championship battle against McLaren
And they do not, so FP2 ends in a McLaren 1-2 with Lando Norris on top, while Nico Hulkenberg completed the top three in a shock result for the German during his final weekend with Haas before moving to Sauber in 2025.
The clock has hit 0:00, so drivers are now doing their final lap but it's very unlikely that anybody topples the 1m23.517s set by Lando Norris.
This session could not have gone better for McLaren...
Charles Leclerc after being told of Oscar Piastri's sector times: "They [McLaren] are really fast."
Drivers have not really gone quicker since those first laps on the soft tyre around the halfway mark. It has been a relatively straightforward session, with no yellow or red flag incidents while Lando Norris has dominated from start-to-finish.
Five minutes remain.
"Out of Turn 3, I hit the kerb quite hard, like the plank," reports Max Verstappen, who has so far had a session to forget down in 17th with eight minutes remaining.
A dominant session for the McLaren driver, who is looking to seal a career-best of second in the championship this weekend.
With 11 minutes left in the session, it remains a McLaren 1-2 on a weekend the British squad could claim its first constructors' title since 1998:
1. Lando Norris
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Nico Hulkenberg
4. Carlos Sainz
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Charles Leclerc
7. Valtteri Bottas
8. Kevin Magnussen
9. Alex Albon
10. Yuki Tsunoda
The problems continue for Williams, as Alex Albon was struggling for power with smoke slightly coming out of his car's rear. He is currently ninth and has gone back to his garage.
There's a cacophony of beats emanating from the many yachts in the marina outside the third sector. I don't think many people here have paid much attention to the on-track running.
The signs are good for Lando Norris, as the McLaren driver has dominated this session and his 1m23.517s remains unbeaten.
It appears floor damage has ended Franco Colapinto's FP2. The Williams driver went off at Turn 9 and with 21 minutes left in the session, mechanics are working on his car with all four tyres off while the 21-year-old is nowhere to be seen.
"Half of the grid is sleeping. They're in the way," reported Charles Leclerc after encountering traffic.
The Ferrari driver is currently sixth having just set his first lap on the soft tyre and is 0.684s off leader Lando Norris.
Franco Colapinto is one of just two drivers not out on track, Sergio Perez is the other, as Williams mechanics are working on his floor which seemingly picked up damage after going off at Turn 9.
As expected, the soft tyre means drivers are now going faster. Oscar Piastri knocked team-mate Lando Norris off top spot as the McLaren driver set a 1m23.751s.
But moments later, Norris went fastest again, 0.234s ahead of Piastri.
The track is ramping up again as FP2 hits the halfway mark, with the soft tyre now being fitted onto cars.
There are 35 minutes left in the session and all is pretty quiet at the moment with every driver in their garage.
Franco Colapinto is the only driver to have set his lap not on the medium tyre, as the #43 Williams is eighth having done a 1m25.265s on the soft rubber.
"Cockpit is still reasonably toasty" reports Mercedes driver George Russell, with air temperature at Yas Marina Circuit currently being 27C.
Charles Leclerc jumps his Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz into second with a 1m24.540s. Lando Norris remains the benchmark by 0.208s.
"The understeer is ridiculous" reports a frustrated Max Verstappen over team radio, with the four-time world champion currently sixth in FP2.
McLaren and Ferrari are battling for the constructors' crown this weekend, with the Italian squad 21 points behind the championship leaders.
Both teams currently occupy the top four spots in FP2, as Lando Norris leads Carlos Sainz by 0.238s ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.
There is plenty to discuss at this weekend's season finale and Sergio Perez's future is one of them, after a disappointing season for the Red Bull driver who is eighth in the championship despite team-mate Max Verstappen clinching his fourth title. Christian Horner has revealed handing Perez a new contract in June did not work as intended.
Charles Leclerc isn't fastest for long, as Lando Norris goes 0.418s quicker with Lewis Hamilton then slotting into second, 0.311s behind the McLaren. The same top three from FP1.
Charles Leclerc goes fastest with his first lap setting a 1m25.438s, on a weekend where he will receive a 10-place grid drop because of a new battery being fitted onto his Ferrari.
Drivers are out on the medium tyre and Liam Lawson has set the early pace with a 1m25.537s.
FP2 is underway with several drivers seemingly in a rush to get out on track.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso was not happy after FP1 with the Aston Martin driver having finished 11th amid a frustrating season for the Silverstone-based squad.
Good afternoon and welcome to FP2 for the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped the opening session ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris, while Lewis Hamilton completed the top three to begin his final weekend with Mercedes.
By: Ed Hardy
