Max Verstappen topped both Friday practice sessions in Jeddah; Fernando Alonso set off for the Red Bulls to finish second under the lights; Lewis Hamilton only 11th for Mercedes; Watch the final practice of the Saudi Arabian GP live Saturday at 1:30pm on Sky Sports F1
Max Verstappen was fastest in both practice sessions on Friday.
Max Verstappen completed a practice one-two at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Friday as Fernando Alonso finished second to provide further evidence of Aston Martin’s remarkable progress.
Having led a one-two from Red Bull from Sergio Perez in the opening session, Verstappen, who took victory in the season opener in Bahrain earlier this month, was once again untouchable by posting a time of 1:1. 29.603 to finish 0.2s ahead of Alonso
Perez, who sealed a one-two for Red Bull in Bahrain, was a tenth behind Alonso in third on F1’s fastest street circuit, in overnight conditions reflecting Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race.
Alpine showed a better performance as fourth placed Esteban Ocon and his teammate Pierre Gasly were split by Mercedes’ George Russell.
However, Russell’s teammate Lewis Hamilton endured a far more challenging session as he finished 11th, just behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who were disappointed as they were expected to be the oldest. Verstappen’s rivals in Saudi Arabia.
There were suspicions that Ferrari was running its engines significantly below their maximum capacity, as experienced by the team after both drivers were forced to take new power units due to technical problems in Bahrain.
More to follow…
Formula 1 street racing is back! Watch the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Saturday qualifying and Sunday’s race are live at 5pm Get Sky Sports
