Lando Norris led the first practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, narrowly beating Max Verstappen by 0.008 seconds. Norris's McLaren was fastest, with Verstappen's Red Bull close behind, and Charles Leclerc third. The session featured nine rookie drivers from various teams, including Pato O’Ward in McLaren for Oscar Piastri, Arvid Lindblad for Red Bull, and others from Ferrari, Williams, Aston Martin, Haas, Alpine, and more. Norris’s teammate Piastri did not participate, focusing on rookie testing. The session was marked by technical issues, spins, and close competition, with Norris setting a time of 1:24.485 on soft tires. Verstappen reported potential car issues, and several rookies, including Lindblad and Browning, experienced technical problems. The practice was considered unrepresentative due to daylight conditions, with teams analyzing data ahead of more critical sessions. The second practice session is scheduled for later in the day.