Enter about:config in your address bar, accept the risk as asked then search for handoff. Change the following preference to false. browser.newtabpage.activity-stream.improvesearch.handoffToAwesomebar

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

I tried this recommendation. It worked once, but when I open a new page it reverts to the address bar.

Has the change persisted? If so, try restarting the browser. If it hasn't persisted, report that in a further reply.

Hello that works. When I create a new tab however, it only shows the address bar. Is there a way to repeat same in the new tab?

Make sure your "New tabs" setting is set to "Firefox Home (Default)" and you don't have any extensions enabled that change the new tab page.