Lando Norris led a one-two finish ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri in second practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as McLaren made an encouraging start to their bid to seal the constructors' championship.
McLaren had already received a major boost earlier on Friday when Ferrari, trying to overturn a 21-point deficit ahead of Sunday's season finale, suffered a major blow when Charles Leclerc was handed a 10-place penalty on the grid for getting a new battery.
Their chances of winning the constructors' title for the first time since 1998 were further strengthened in Friday evening's crucial session, in which conditions are very similar to those in qualifying and the race, when Norris and Piastri impressed.
Norris clocked 1:23.517 to finish more than two-tenths of a second ahead of Piastri, while both men also showed strong pace during their longer race simulation runs.
Nico Hulkenberg was a few tenths further back in a surprising third place for Haas ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, while Leclerc could only manage sixth.
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Sky Sports revisits Lewis Hamilton's most emotional moments for Mercedes ahead of his final race in Abu Dhabi.
Lewis Hamilton, who drives for Mercedes for the final time before ending a 12-season run with the team to join Ferrari next year, finished fifth.
George Russell and Max Verstappen – the two drivers who have been the center of attention in Abu Dhabi due to their extraordinary feud – have both struggled.
Mercedes' Russell could only place 13th after making a mistake during his run on soft tyres, while world champion Verstappen was unhappy with the handling of his Red Bull as he could only place 17th .
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Craig Slater has taken a closer look at how the Qatar penalty fallout intensified between George Russell and Max Verstappen after George called the Red Bull driver a 'bully'.
Verstappen, Sainz and Piastri were three of six drivers who missed the first tests to allow their teams to complete their mandatory quota of young driver sessions for the season.
What's next…
Sky Sports F1 Abu Dhabi GP Live Schedule
Saturday December 7
8:10 a.m.: First F1 Academy race
10:15 a.m.: Practice 3 of the Abu Dhabi GP (session starts at 10:30 a.m.)
12:10 p.m.: F2 Sprint Race
1:15 p.m.: preparation for qualifying for the Abu Dhabi GP
2:00 p.m.: ABU DHABI GP QUALIFYING*
4 p.m.: F1 Academy: Second race
5 p.m.: Ted’s qualification log
Sunday December 8
7:10 a.m.: Third race of the F1 Academy
9:20 a.m.: F2 featured race
11:30 a.m.: Grand Prix Sunday: preparation for the Abu Dhabi GP
1 p.m.: The ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX
3:00 p.m.: Checkered flag: reaction from the Abu Dhabi GP
4 p.m.: 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
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