The final Friday of the F1 2023 season in Abu Dhabi witnessed a day filled with drama as Charles Leclerc of Ferrari set the pace, but the second practice session was heavily disrupted by crashes involving Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg. Despite the challenges, Leclerc managed to post the quickest time of 1:24.809, edging out Lando Norris of McLaren by 0.043s and reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.173s. However, the day's action at the Yas Marina Circuit was marred by two separate red-flag incidents that significantly impacted teams' run plans. Sainz's session came to an abrupt end after just eight minutes when he lost control of his Ferrari at high speed in Turn Three. The car spun off the track, colliding with the tyre barrier. Fortunately, Sainz emerged unscathed from the heavily damaged car, attributing his crash to bumps on the track that had unsettled multiple drivers throughout the day. The first red-flag period lasted for 22 minutes as marshals worked to repair the damaged barriers. Sainz, while acknowledging the severity of the crash, expressed relief at the safety features of the car, stating, "I'm a little bit sore but nothing to worry about." The disruptions continued when Nico Hulkenberg spun his Haas and collided with the inside barriers coming out of Turn One, prompting a second red-flag period. The incidents condensed the scheduled running time, limiting the conclusions that could be drawn from the day's practice.