Charles Leclerc set the pace from Lando Norris in first practice at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – but Ferrari’s Constructors’ Championship title hopes have already suffered a huge blow after their driver was handed a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race.
Just moments after Leclerc had topped the opening session at the Yas Marina Circuit in what had appeared an early boost to their prospects, Ferrari confirmed a battery change on the Monegasque’s car from the start of the session would trigger a costly 10-place grid drop for the Grand Prix.
Ferrari trail McLaren by 21 points heading into the 2024 F1 finale and realistically need a one-two race finish to truly place their rivals under pressure as they chase a first constructors’ crown since 2008.
But Leclerc will now start no higher than 11th on Sunday’s grid.
In an opening session which saw six of the grid’s regular drivers – including world champion Max Verstappen – watch from the sidelines while teams completed their requirements to give practice track time during the year to rookies, Leclerc had pipped McLaren rival Norris to the quickest time late in the session with a best lap of 1:24.321.
Leclerc’s fastest time came during a practice in which he made joint history with his younger brother Arthur by becoming the first siblings to be team-mates in the same session.
Arthur Leclerc, who is a development driver at the Scuderia, was 18th quickest on his P1 debut as he stood in for Carlos Sainz.
Norris finished two tenths of a second back from the senior Leclerc with the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell third and fourth respectively.
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Craig Slater took a closer look at how the Qatar penalty fallout escalated between George Russell and Max Verstappen after George labelled the Red Bull driver as a ‘bully’.
Hamilton is competing in his final weekend as a Mercedes driver after 12 years ahead of his winter switch to Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion will head to the stewards after the opening session, however, for allegedly impeding Norris mid-way through the session at the final corner.
With Nico Hulkenberg sixth at the start of his Haas swansong, Franco Colapinto was seventh for Williams but it was confirmed during the session that both the Argentine and Alex Albon will take five-place grid penalties for Sunday’s race for exceeding gearbox usage limits.
Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich was the fastest non-race driver in ninth. Sergio Perez took 10th for Red Bull with his future at the team beyond this weekend looking increasingly precarious.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday December 6
12.45pm: Abu Dhabi GP Practice Two (session starts at 1pm)*
2.30pm: F1 Academy Qualifying*
3.15pm: The F1 Show*
Saturday December 7
8.10am: F1 Academy Race One
10.15am: Abu Dhabi GP Practice Three (session starts at 10.30am)
12.10pm: F2 Sprint Race
1.15pm: Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*
4pm: F1 Academy: Race Two
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday December 8
7.10am: F1 Academy Race Three
9.20am: F2 Feature Race
11.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Abu Dhabi GP build-up
1pm: The ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
3pm: Chequered Flag: Abu Dhabi GP reaction
4pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Watch the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 season – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 1pm. Get Sky Sports F1 or stream with NOW