Lando Norris rages at Max Verstappen for impeding him during the 2025 F1 Abu Dhabi GP

McLaren star Lando Norris went into the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP season finale as the leader of the championship. During the FP2 session at the Yas Marina circuit, Max Verstappen impeded the McLaren driver in the early minutes of the session. The same led to the Briton raging at the Dutchman on the radio.

Lando Norris topped the FP1 session at the Abu Dhabi GP with Max Verstappen just a few hundredths away in P2. Oscar Piastri sat out the session to give Pato O'Ward the seat for the rookie driver test. Every session and every lap is crucial at the Abu Dhabi GP with all three drivers contending for the title.

In the first 10 minutes of the FP2 session, Lando Norris was on the medium tires, preparing for a qualifying run later in the session. With the track in the most representative condition in comparison to the qualifying and race conditions, it becomes the prime time for all drivers.

As Lando Norris started his flying lap, he had Max Verstappen sitting on the exit of Turn 1 on the racing line. The McLaren star, who was coming in hot, had to take avoiding action, lifted off the exit, and put two wheels outside the white lines.

F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi - Practice - Source: Getty

The same led to Lando Norris raging at the four-time F1 champion on the radio, complaining about the Dutchman impeding him. He said,

“What is this guy doing? I almost crashed.”

The same incident was noted by the race control for impeding at Turn 1. However, since it happened in the practice session, it wouldn't result in a grid drop or any serious penalty for the Red Bull star.

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Former F1 Boss believes Max Verstappen will triumph over Lando Norris at the 2025 F1 title decider

F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone came out ahead of the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP and detailed Max Verstappen and Lando Norris' title chances. The former F1 Boss detailed the reason why the Red Bull star is likely to take home the fifth title rather than Norris winning his first.

“I still believe Max will do it. He deserves it. I used to say Alain Prost was the best driver of all time, doing it on his own without a radio to the pit wall telling him what to do, but I think Max is the best I have known. He stands alone.” (via Daily Mail )

“Lando is fine, a really good driver, but he is over-confident, too cocky, believing his own publicity, but he gets nervous at crunch moments and can’t quite deliver the way Max can when the pressure is on,” added Ecclestone

Max Verstappen trails Norris by 12 points going into the season finale and needs to win with the Briton finishing P4 or lower.