Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc fastest in first practice but faces 10-place grid penalty
Leclerc, whose session was delayed by half an hour due to a battery change, was 0.221 seconds faster than Norris, but was running on softer tires and at a time when the track was in better conditions because it was later in the session.
Norris was 0.264 seconds faster than Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, whose teammate George Russell was 0.359 seconds behind in a weekend which has so far been dominated by his dispute with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Leclerc’s brother Arthur, a Ferrari development driver, drove Carlos Sainz’s car.
Verstappen did not participate in the session, his car being driven by French Formula 2 driver Isaac Hadjar, a contender for a seat in Red Bull’s RB team next year.
Red Bull are considering whether to replace Sergio Perez after a difficult second consecutive season for the Mexican alongside Verstappen. If they do, Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda – most likely Lawson – will be promoted from RB and Hadjar could be slotted to RB.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was fifth fastest, ahead of Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, with both teams vying for sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship this weekend, with Alpine five points ahead.
Williams driver Franco Colapinto was seventh fastest ahead of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich and Pérez.
Alpine’s Jack Doohan, set to take over from Esteban Ocon in the lead in his debut season in 2025, was 19th fastest after promising a steady start to his F1 career.
Of the reserve drivers who stepped up, McLaren’s Ryo Hirakawa finished 14th, and Hadjar finished 16th.
Ayumu Iwasa was 17th ahead of Arthur Leclerc in Tsunade’s Red Bull, Doohan and Briton Luke Browning in the Williams.
It was an emotional day for the entire Leclerc family. His mother Pasquale Ferrari was in the pits, and on Thursday Charles Leclerc spoke about what it means to the family, who lost his father Hervé to cancer in 2017.
“It’s definitely a very special moment not only for me, not only for Arthur, but I think for the whole family,” Charles said, “because I can only see that when I was little.” How much my parents sacrificed for me. We have to continue.
“They had to put Arthur’s career on hold at one point because they couldn’t pay for both of us. It’s special how much my dad has given to help our careers. It’s a dream for both of us .
“I know how much it meant to my father to be able to restart Arthur’s career. When they did, he was so happy. It’s very special for him too, to be able to pursue our dream.” Because of how much my father has given us, this will be a moment I will definitely remember forever.”
