FP2 Abu Dhabi GP analysis: McLaren finds best balance, Max Verstappen keeps Red Bull close. FP2 at the Abu Dhabi GP highlights McLaren’s strong compromise on balance.

F1 | McLaren shows best compromise, Verstappen close with Red Bull: FP2 analysis Abu Dhabi GP

The two main title contenders, Max Verstappen with Red Bull and the two McLaren drivers, were closely matched on Friday in Abu Dhabi. For now, the teams are monitoring each other and have shown a similar performance level. Both cars build their laps differently but tend to converge toward comparable performance, except for one factor: Ferrari lags significantly due to tire issues.

Red Bull: Verstappen struggles with understeer but finds good balance

From the first runs of FP1, the four-time Formula 1 world champion reported suffering from understeer in several parts of the track. The main limitation in balance was understeer, which the Austrian team attempted to correct by adjusting the front wing angle. The direction was correct, resulting in more rotation on corner entry and mid-corner.

In general, the car still remains somewhat understeering, as seen in the onboard footage. On this type of circuit, with slower corners, Red Bull’s setup shifts the balance more toward the rear. This provides good traction; when the Dutch driver applied throttle, minimal steering corrections were required.

The Milton Keynes team crafted a setup that loses about 0.2 seconds in sector 1, mostly in the first corner, but gains it back in sector 2 by exploiting the car’s efficiency. On the straight between turns 5 and 6, they close much of the gap to Lando Norris’ MCL39.

This balances the deficit, but sector 3 is critical. The RB21 shows some tire overheating, building the lap more like a Ferrari and revealing a similar rear limit in the last five corners, although not as severe as the SF-25. Most of the gap appears in turn 12, losing over a tenth, with the rest between turns 15 and the finish line.

McLaren: rear tends to get light, but they have the best compromise

McLaren remains the benchmark in top-level motorsport even in Abu Dhabi. However, a close look at all onboard footage shows that the two MCL39s are not flawless. The British car has small limits that have been analyzed throughout the season.

Its key advantage is a very wide operating window. Norris reported some balance issues but remained very fast on track. As he explained over team radio: “Yes, I need more front, but at the same time I feel the rear is at the limit, so I think I’ll accept it.” The front end is fundamentally excellent, although some understeer was evident, especially in FP1. The rear remains the main limitation, often unstable. Even today, the rear struggled for traction, yet overall the MCL39 showed the most competitive compromise between corner entry and exit.