Piastri to miss crucial opening practice in Abu Dhabi

Oscar Piastri (pictured) will sit out Free Practice 1 (FP1) at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as McLaren fulfills its mandatory rookie driver requirements for the 2025 season.

This marks the second consecutive year Piastri has missed the opening session in Abu Dhabi, having previously yielded his seat to Ryo Hirakawa. Earlier this year, Lando Norris stepped aside for Alexander Dunne in Austria and Pato O’Ward in Mexico City, while Piastri himself sat out Monza for Dunne.

Pato O’Ward of Mexico driving the (89) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 24, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Andy Hone/LAT Images for McLaren)

Pato O’Ward, McLaren’s IndyCar ace, will take the wheel for FP1, eager to contribute to the team’s championship push.

“We have a very important week ahead as a team,” O’Ward said. “I will be doing my best to help us put our best foot forward to kick off the weekend. I’m excited to see what the outcome will be come race day, and will be supporting Lando and Oscar along the way as they push to make history.”

High Stakes for McLaren in the Season Finale

McLaren enters the final round with both drivers vying for the drivers’ title, having already clinched the constructors’ championship. Norris holds a commanding 12-point lead over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, positioning him as the clear favorite. Piastri remains mathematically in contention, trailing his teammate by 16 points with 25 points to win and 18 for 2nd.

“Qatar was one of my strongest weekends in F1,” Piastri reflected. “The aim for Abu Dhabi is to replicate that and do everything I can for the race win. I will give it my all and make sure I leave no points on the table in this final race.”

A victory by either Norris or Piastri would mark McLaren’s first drivers’ championship since Lewis Hamilton’s triumph in 2008—and the first time the team has claimed both titles in the same season since 1998.

Team principal Andrea Stella emphasized the significance of the moment, urging focus amid recent challenges.

“If someone had told us 10 months ago that we would be in this position, we would have signed up immediately,” Stella said. “We should be proud of what we have achieved so far and of being protagonists in what will be an important page in the history of Formula 1.

“The last two races certainly did not go as we wanted, for very different reasons. After each setback, we have always shown that we know how to react, learning from our mistakes and working as a united and cohesive team.

“It will be the same in Abu Dhabi, on the track where 12 months ago we put the team back to the top. We will do everything possible to put our drivers in the best position to win the title, continuing to pursue our way of approaching racing, with the aim of bringing back to McLaren a double world championship that has been missing for 27 years.”