Lando Norris delivered an impressive performance during second practice for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, solidifying McLaren’s status as the team to beat in the ongoing battle for the Constructors’ Championship.
The session, held under the picturesque evening skies of the Yas Marina Circuit, saw Lando Norris clock a blistering lap time of 1:23.517 which placed him just over two-tenths of a second ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri who finished in second place.
The impressive showing not only highlighted McLaren’s competitive edge but also significantly bolstered their bid for the Constructors’ Championship title, which they have not claimed since 1998.
As second practice for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix began, the drivers were met with ideal track conditions that closely mirrored those expected for qualifying and the race. The sun was setting, creating cooler temperatures that allowed for optimal grip on the circuit.
The session followed a morning of rookie runs, where six young drivers had taken to the track to fulfill their teams’ obligations for the season. Now with the return of experienced drivers like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the evening anticipation was high for a thrilling display of speed and skill.
Norris set the pace early on, establishing himself as a frontrunner from the outset. He initially posted a time on medium tires that put him ahead of his competitors, including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
However, the Ferrari duo struggled during the session; Leclerc was already under pressure due to a 10-place grid penalty incurred from changing his car’s battery—his third of the season, exceeding the allowed allocation.
Meanwhile Sainz struggled with tire performance, particularly when temperatures dropped during the session. The Spaniard remarked: “We’re still not extracting all of the performance,” highlighting ongoing concerns regarding their setup and tyre management as they prepared for qualifying.
As the session progressed, Lando Norris continued to improve his lap times while Piastri also demonstrated his potential by challenging for top positions.
The McLaren duo engaged in a friendly battle, pushing each other to secure better times and ultimately took the top spots to cap off a solid start to the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.
Meanwhile, Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg emerged as a surprise contender, finishing third in FP2 with a commendable performance that highlighted his ability to extract maximum performance from his car.
Nico Hulkenberg emerged as a surprising contender in third place for Haas, clocking in at 0.462 seconds behind Norris. His performance was particularly noteworthy given that this weekend marks his final appearance with Haas before transitioning to Sauber next season.
Hulkenberg’s ability to extract maximum performance from his car added an exciting dimension to the practice session and hinted at Haas’s potential competitiveness at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz managed to secure fourth place, finishing 0.582 seconds off Norris’s best time. His teammate Charles Leclerc faced challenges during the session due to traffic and issues with his car’s setup, ultimately finishing sixth.
Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five for Mercedes, showcasing solid pace but still lagging behind the front-runners. The seven-time world champion is set to leave Mercedes at season’s end to join Ferrari, adding an emotional layer to his final races with the team.
Hamilton’s performance in practice suggested that while he still possesses formidable skills behind the wheel, Mercedes may need further adjustments to compete effectively against McLaren and Ferrari.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez struggled significantly throughout FP2. Verstappen finished in 17th place, expressing frustration over handling issues with his RB20, particularly concerning front-end grip and understeer.
The recently crowned F1 World Champion described his car’s balance as disconnected between entry and mid-corner phases, making it difficult for him to deliver faster laps. Perez fared slightly better but still ended up in 14th place, indicating a dismal start to the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for Red Bull.
The session also saw other notable performances; Valtteri Bottas finished seventh for Sauber ahead of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen while Williams’ Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten.
Despite Albon’s impressive finish, the Anglo-Thai experienced power unit issues that forced him to retire early from the session. Meanwhile, his Williams teammate Franco Colapinto also encountered problems after damaging his car’s floor, which prevented him from completing crucial laps towards the end of FP2.
As practice concluded, it became evident that McLaren had established themselves as serious contenders not only for victory at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but also for securing their first Constructors’ Championship title.
Looking ahead to qualifying and race day, teams will analyze data collected from this practice session meticulously to fine-tune their setups and strategies.
