Rory Mitchell

This is a good point after Norris was booed in Mexico for what happened at Monza. It feels like McLaren has entered damned if you do, damned if you don't territory.

Norris, Verstappen, and Piastri are quite even on the medium tyre long runs in the low 1:29s. I'd say Norris is slightly quicker per lap, with Piastri in the mid- and high-1:29s.

Leclerc is also quicker than Russell, but Ferrari's one-lap pace is nowhere. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

Piastri locks up on his second run on the soft tyre at T6. Seems he's not really refined the balance of his car yet. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

First runs on the soft tyre in FP2, and Norris leads the way on a 1:23.083s. Verstappen is 0.363s off, and Piastri a further 0.680s adrift. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

Brown: "Last year, once it became clear Lando had the best chance to catch Max and Oscar was almost statistically out of it in Baku, we asked Oscar to support Lando. It ended up being Lando supporting Oscar in that particular race, and Oscar won. So we're going to use common sense." #f1 #AbuDhabiGP

Zak Brown asked if his stance on using team orders on Sunday is a U-turn on what McLaren has done all season: "I don't think it's a U-turn. We're going to start the weekend like we have the other 23, which is going in, giving both drivers equal opportunity." (cont) #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

McLaren fought with Alpine for Piastri's services. He won F3 and F2 back-to-back, and has Mark Webber managing him. A recent court case suggests that it was Andreas Seidl who signed Piastri when Zak Brown wanted Alex Palou, but McLaren knew what they were getting.

The good thing is, FP1 at Abu Dhabi is pretty much redundant because it's staged in the day. Every other session is at night/twilight, when the track and air temperature are a lot cooler.

Rookie times in #AbuDhabiGP FP1:

1. (P11) Hirakawa - 1:24.934
2. (P13) Aron - 1:25.204
3. (P14) O'Ward - 1:25.246
4. (P15) Lindblad - 1:25.256
5. (P16) A. Leclerc - 1:25.360
6. (P17) Iwasa - 1:25.475
7. (P18) Browning - 1:25.490
8. (P19) Crawford - 1:25.889
9. (P20) Shields - 1:26.432 #F1

Fun fact about Ayumu Iwasa: His mum and dad were both amateur racing drivers in Japan, and they first met when they crashed into each other in the same race at Suzuka! #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

harry potter and hermione granger are sitting at a table in a classroom talking to each other . ALT: harry potter and hermione granger are sitting at a table in a classroom talking to each other .

This is a very Harry Potter coded team radio from Russell:

Engineer: "So Iwasa at three seconds (behind)"
Russell: "I think that is O'Ward not O(I)wasa"
Engineer: "Sorry O'Ward yeah."
Russell: "Easy mistake." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

Yeah, he is!

Zak Brown finally admits McLaren will back one of their drivers to win the title. Speaking to Sky Sports F1: "If we get into the race and it’s becoming pretty clear that one has a chance and the other doesn’t, we’re going to do what we can to win the Drivers’ Championship." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

Rookies in #AbuDhabiGP FP1:

McLaren - Pato O'Ward
Ferrari - Arthur Leclerc
Red Bull - Arvid Lindblad
Williams - Luke Browning
Racing Bulls - Ayumu Iwasa
Haas - Ryo Hirakawa
Aston Martin - Jak Crawford and Cian Shields
Alpine - Paul Aron #F1

How AI is helping tackle online abuse in F1 | Sector Artificial Intelligence company Arwen is helping Formula 1 teams combat online trolls and make social media a safer place for all

"It wasn't easy getting all those kinds of comments after the race, especially for something I'd never do."

After 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli recieved over 1,000 abusive social media posts following the Qatar GP, I look at how #F1 teams are using AI to handle the issue.

sector.world/2025/12/how-...

Zak Brown has said he would rather a '2007 scenario' play out, where Verstappen wins, than inflict team orders. It's certainly unique, but you have to wonder what people will do in the heat of the moment. Maybe Piastri might help Norris as an act of sportsmanship?

Norris (cont): "At the same time, if that's how it ends and Max wins, then that's it. Congrats to him, and and look forward to next year. Doesn't change anything. Doesn't change my life."

Piastri: "I don't really have an answer until I know what's expected on that." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

McLaren drivers asked if they have discussed the possible scenario of swapping positions to favour one in the title fight. Norris: "No, not been discussed. I would love it, but I don't think I would ask it. It's up to Oscar. I don't think it's necessarily down to me." #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

Hadjar asked which one of the title protagonists, with Verstappen being his teammate next year, will take the 2025 title on Sunday: "Lando."

Both Russell and Leclerc also said the same in the drivers' presser. #F1 #AbuDhabiGP

Haas will replace Moneygram with Toyota Gazoo Racing as their title sponsor. From 2026, they will be known as the 'TGR Haas F1 Team' with a livery set to launched online on 23rd January. #F1

However, a judge in the French courts has ruled that irregularities raised should be further examined and a hearing has been scheduled for 16th February 2026. #F1

The FIA presidental election is set to go ahead next week (12th December) after an injunction to stop them was not granted. This follows a legal challenge from prospective candidate Laura Villars launched in October.

This means Mohammed Ben Sulyem will be re-elected as FIA President unopposed. #F1

Cadillac has spent big on a Super Bowl ad slot to reveal its 2026 F1 livery on 8th February. A single 30-second ad slot in front of 120 million TV viewers is worth $8m+, according to The Guardian. #F1

If there is a good time to be Verstappen's teammate, it's the start of a new regulation cycle. Hadjar's driving style is not that different from Verstappen's and the infancy of the regs should allow for greater setup convergence.

It's sink or swim at Red Bull. That never changed from Vettel/Webber to Verstappen/Ricciardo et al.

Is Isack Hadjar ready for the second Red Bull seat? Now that Max Verstappen has committed his future at Red Bull, talk has turned to who will get the second seat.

Wrote about whether Hadjar is ready for the second seat at Red Bull in September.

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane said he needed to improve his consistency in qualifying. Since then? He's reached Q3 six times in seven races. #F1

f1debrief.substack.com/p/is-isack-h...

Tsunoda will remain at Red Bull as their reserve driver. Liam Lawson will stay at Racing Bulls, and Arvid Lindblad will be his teammate. #F1

Red Bull confirms Isack Hadjar will partner Max Verstappen for the 2026 #F1 season.

Alpine are the next team to confirm its 2026 car launch plans. They are going three days before the private test in Barcelona on 23rd January.

So far we have:
15/01 - Red Bull/Racing Bulls
23/01 - Alpine
09/02 - Aston Martin #F1

McLaren has signed Leonardo Fornaroli to it's driver development programme, following his back-to-back title success in F3 and F2 in the last two years. Title rival Richard Verschoor also joins the lineup, along with European karting champion Christian Costoya. #F1