Abu Dhabi GP: Friday sees more work for Williams Racing


By Williams Racing
December 6 2025

Friday practice for the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP would see the Atlassian Williams Racing Team finish outside the top ten with Carlos Sainz 13th and Alex Albon 15th. For Alex he would lose one session as Academy driver Luke Browning would run in FP1. For Luke he would finish 18th in what he saw as a positive day as he continues to learn the FW47. For both Carlos and Alex their Fridays were productive including finding that they both suffered from higher degradation than expected. The gaps in the midfield are so very close that to move forward requires the smallest improvements in times so both Carlos and Alex are hopeful of improvements in FP3.

 
 Williams Racing Abu Dhabi GP Friday Practice Review
Albon
 

Albon

Alex Albon:
"Honestly, it's not been a bad day but there's little fires everywhere. I only did the one session today, but the car feels reasonably good. Degradation is much higher than we all expected so I think that will make Sunday interesting as before the event it was a clear one stop, and now it's not. There's a lot of grip out there but the front is sliding, and you can see everyone grabbing their front tyre. Tomorrow I just want to have a smooth FP3 and then we'll see how it goes, but I do know it's very tight; I reckon half a second is the difference in pretty much the whole field right now. So, it's all fun and exciting."

Sainz 
 

Carlos Sainz:
"It was an extremely tight session today. I think we’re in the fight, but it looks like Haas and Sauber are leading the midfield at the moment. We were quite surprised with the high degradation during the long runs, so it’s something for us to look at. For tomorrow, we’ll try to take a step forward and fight our way into Q3. It will come down to whoever can put the lap together, so maximum focus."

 
 

Luke Browning:
"Overall, a really positive FP1 session and great to get more mileage in an F1 car. It’s always an added challenge switching between F1 and F2 on the same day, but I’m enjoying being out there on track and learning how the current F1 car works. Now my focus is back on F2 as we close out this season, before getting my final opportunity to drive the FW47 this year at the post-season test!"

 
Browning
 
Sainz
 
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi | 5.281km
 
Driver FP1 FP2
C. Sainz 1:24.771 (9th) 1:23.872 (13th)
A. Albon -    1:23.950 (15th)
L. Browning 1:25.490 (18th)   -
 
Browning