A close encounter on track in Abu Dhabi sparked anger from Lando Norris during the second practice session, as the McLaren driver accused his championship rival Max Verstappen of impeding and promptly involved the race stewards. Despite McLaren reporting the incident, the officials decided not to open an investigation, allowing the session to continue without further action.
The incident occurred shortly after FP2 got underway, with the Yas Marina sun still high and drivers beginning their planned runs. Norris had just started a flying lap on medium tyres when he came across Verstappen exiting Turn 1. The Red Bull driver, reacting to his team’s instructions, moved left but only cleared the racing line belatedly, prompting Norris to radio his frustration to the McLaren pit wall.
Norris furious over impeding, no action from stewards
“There’s Norris behind you… he’s not starting a flying lap… or maybe he is, he’s coming up fast,” Gian Piero Lambiase warned Max Verstappen. The Dutch driver moved aside as soon as possible, but Norris was clearly unhappy with the near-impeding on his lap.
Opening radio contact, the 1999-born British driver expressed his anger: “What is this guy doing? I almost had an accident!” he exclaimed, visibly frustrated. McLaren, following standard protocol in such a high-stakes championship battle, immediately informed the stewards about the incident. However, as is often the case for potential impeding during free practice sessions, race control chose not to open a formal investigation into Verstappen’s Red Bull.
The episode highlights the tension between the title contenders even during practice sessions, where every lap and every track position can affect preparations for qualifying and the race. While no penalties were issued, Lando Norris’ reaction underscores the fine margins and competitive intensity at the top of the F1 championship heading into the season finale.
Lando Norris went on to dominate the rest of FP2 regardless, topping the timesheets by a comfortable margin and proving the near-miss had not knocked his confidence. But the radio exchange served as a reminder that, on the track and over the airwaves, this title fight is far from friendly.
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