Pierre Gasly has elapsed by a surprise that the peak of the time schedule for Alpine of McLaren’s Lando Norris in the first practice of the Saudi Arab Grand Prix.
Gasly went on the track on fresh soft tires a little later than most of the fields and took advantage of cooling – and improved – track conditions for Edge World Championship Norris by seven thousandths of a second.
After the unsatisfactory display in Bahrain last weekend, McLaren’s car 2025 forced him to resign from his preferred driving style, Norris could encourage almost a tenth of a second.
Piastri, who won in Bahrain to close at three points of Norris at the top of the ranking, survived premature frightening, cropping one of the many waiting walls of Jeddah Cornich to record the fourth for Ferrari Charles Leclerc.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The Williams driver Carlos Sainz was left frustrated after he almost collided with Ferrari during the initial practice in Saudi Arabia.
Lewis Hamilton was unable to compare the pace of the Leclerc team when he held five tenths of Gasly in the eighth place, a place in front of the ruling world champion Max Verstappen, who continued to fight his Red Bull’s balance.
Williams created a strong show when Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz took the fifth and seventh, with Mercedes George Russell between them after failed to keep his early impressive pace on the middle tire when the field switched to softs.
Friday’s second session, Live On Sky Sports F1 at 6 pm, will probably be a better indicator of a competitive image for the rest of the weekend, taking place under the lights in the same conditions as Saturday’s qualifications and Sunday race.
More follow …
Saudi Arab Arabic spelling Sky Sports F1
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Look back on some of the most dramatic moments that took place on the Jeddah Cornich circuit
Friday 18th April
- 15:55: F2 qualification
- 16:40: Team boss’s press conference
- 17:45: Saudi Arab practical practice two (session starts at 18:00)
- 19:25: Qualification of the Academy F1
- 8.10pm: Show F1
Saturday April 19
- 13:15: F1 Academy Race 1
- 14:50: Saudi Arabic practice GP three (session starts at 14:30)*
- 16:10: F2 Sprint
- 17:10: Saudi Arab GP qualification
- 18:00: Qualification of Saudi Arab GP
Sunday 20th April
- 13:00: F1 Academy Race 2
- 2,20pm: Feature Feature Feature Feature
- 16:30: Saudi Arabic practical authority: Sunday Grand Prix
- 18:00: Saudi Arabic Grand Prize*
- 20:00: Saudi Arab GP Reaction: Chessboard
*Live also at the main Sky Sports event
Formula 1 will complete its first triple head from 2025 in Jeddah with the Saudi Arab Grand Prix this weekend, Live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract whenever cancel
