Norris just edges Verstappen in Abu Dhabi practice

Title contenders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were tied together at the top of the times in first practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Norris' McLaren headed Verstappen's Red Bull by just 0.008 seconds, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc third and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli fourth.

Norris leads Verstappen by 12 points before the final race of the season and the Briton will be world champion for the first time if he finishes on the podium regardless of any other results.

Verstappen will be champion if he wins the race and Norris is lower than third.

The other title contender, Norris' team-mate Oscar Piastri, sat out the first session as IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward completed one of McLaren's mandatory 'rookie' runs.

Piastri is 16 points behind Norris and faces a difficult mathematical task if he is to become champion.

The first session at Abu Dhabi is notoriously unrepresentative as it is run in daylight while both qualifying and the race start at twilight and run as the sun sets and day turns to night.

Many of the teams chose to run rookie drivers - only Mercedes and Sauber had both their race drivers in the cars.

Leclerc, who was 0.016secs off the pace in an encouraging performance for Ferrari after a particularly poor race in Qatar last weekend, was partnered by his brother Arthur.