Abu Dhabi long run analysis | Who's fastest at the Yas Marina Circuit?
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- Estéban den Toom
Max Verstappen stepped aside during the first free practice session in Abu Dhabi, allowing Red Bull junior driver Isack Hadjar to take the wheel. Hadjar, making a rare appearance for the team, delivered a modest performance, similar to teammate Sergio Perez. Neither set particularly impressive times in FP1. Later, Verstappen himself didn’t set any standout times during his initial runs either. But how did the reigning world champion fare in his long runs during the second free practice session? And what can we expect for the final race of the season? Let’s break down the data.
Verstappen, Perez, and the McLarens:
Red Bull's Max Verstappen completed a long stint of eight laps on the Yas Marina Circuit during the second free practice. His times mostly ranged between a low 1:29 and a high 1:30, except on his fourth lap, when he posted a 1:31.794. Interestingly, during this stint, Sergio Perez was slightly faster than his world-champion teammate. Perez ran a nine-lap stint—one more than Verstappen’s—and showcased greater consistency.
While Verstappen recorded four consecutive laps above the 1:30 mark, Perez only went over that time three times. Like Verstappen, Perez also had a slower lap, posting a 1:33.366 on his third lap. Overall, Perez was just a little faster and more consistent during the session.
McLaren Shows Strong Pace:
Lando Norris outperformed both Red Bulls in his long stint. The British driver ran a seven-lap stint and exceeded the 1:30 mark only once, even managing to clock a low 1:29—a time neither Verstappen nor Perez achieved. His teammate Oscar Piastri also impressed, recording four low 1:29 laps in his eight-lap stint. The McLaren drivers’ pace was a clear standout, leaving Ferrari trailing behind in the long run.
Ferrari and Mercedes Compared:
Ferrari struggled to keep up with their rivals. Carlos Sainz managed nine laps in his stint but dipped below the 1:30 barrier just three times. Charles Leclerc fared slightly better, completing a ten-lap stint with better consistency, but his pace still didn’t match Verstappen, Perez, Norris, or Piastri.
Mercedes showed promising speed, particularly with Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion drove an eight-lap stint, with all but one lap under 1:30. His times were consistent, ranging from low to high 1:29s. Teammate George Russell, however, was slightly less consistent. His times were closer to Perez’s but didn’t match Hamilton’s steadiness.
One of the most notable performances came from Nico Hülkenberg. On soft tyres, the German driver achieved eight consecutive laps in the 1:28 range. While impressive, it’s unclear how this compares to others who were running medium tyres, as tyre compounds heavily influence pace.
Average Lap Times in Abu Dhabi:
The average lap times during the long runs reveal some interesting takeaways:
Max Verstappen: 1:29.855
Sergio Perez: 1:29.781
Oscar Piastri: 1:29.652
Lando Norris: 1:29.684
Lewis Hamilton: 1:29.505
Both McLarens as well as Hamilton were faster than Verstappen and Perez on average. McLaren’s pace was particularly impressive, while Mercedes’ performance may be boosted by their tendency to run higher engine settings on Fridays.
Final Thoughts:
Heading into the final race weekend of the season, McLaren looks exceptionally strong, with Norris and Piastri both delivering impressive long-run performances. Red Bull remains competitive, but Verstappen and Perez will need to step up to maintain dominance. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s struggles suggest they could face challenges on race day, while Mercedes shows quiet promise. It all sets the stage for an exciting finale at Yas Marina.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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