The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 kicked off on Friday, April 18, with Free Practice 1 and 2 sessions held at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. This event, which does not feature a Sprint race, follows the traditional schedule, allowing drivers to gauge their car's performance with initial lap times.
The standout performance of the day came from Pierre Gasly, who topped the charts in Free Practice 1 (FP1) with a time of 1:29.239, showcasing Alpine's improvement after a disappointing start to the season. Gasly's impressive lap was closely followed by McLaren's Lando Norris, who finished just 0.007 seconds behind, and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who took third place, only 0.070 seconds off the pace.
In FP1, the top five were rounded out by Oscar Piastri in fourth and Alexander Albon in fifth. Carlos Sainz, driving for Williams, managed to secure the seventh position, while Fernando Alonso struggled to find pace, finishing in fourteenth place. This session highlighted the competitive nature of the grid, with many drivers pushing the limits of their machines.
As the sun set over Jeddah, the second practice session (FP2) commenced under floodlights, providing conditions more akin to those expected during qualifying and the race. Lando Norris seized the opportunity to dominate FP2, clocking a blistering time of 1:28.267, solidifying McLaren's status as the team to beat this weekend. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, was not far behind, finishing second with a time of 1:28.430.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing completed the top three, finishing at 1:28.547, while Leclerc maintained his competitive form with a time of 1:28.749, placing him fourth. Carlos Sainz continued to show promise, securing fifth position with a time of 1:28.942.
However, the session was marred by an incident involving Yuki Tsunoda, who crashed at the exit of the last corner, prompting a red flag with only eight minutes remaining. Tsunoda, who managed to exit the car unharmed, caused a brief halt in the action as the medical car was deployed to assess the situation. His crash underscored the risks drivers face on the tight and unforgiving street circuit.
Despite the disruptions, the majority of drivers completed significant laps, allowing them to gather crucial data for the upcoming qualifying session. George Russell finished seventh, while Pierre Gasly, who had led FP1, ended up in eighth place during FP2. Nico Hülkenberg and Alex Albon rounded out the top ten, while Lewis Hamilton struggled to find his rhythm, finishing thirteenth.
Fernando Alonso's challenges continued as he finished FP2 in fifteenth place, 1.395 seconds behind Norris. The veteran driver has yet to score points this season and faces an uphill battle to improve his fortunes with the underperforming Aston Martin.
The ambient temperature in Jeddah hovered around 28ºC, with the track temperature reaching a scorching 51ºC, presenting a unique challenge for teams as they adjusted their setups to cope with the heat. Pirelli brought their softest tire compounds for this weekend, which is expected to play a crucial role in tire strategy during the race.
As the teams prepare for Free Practice 3 and the qualifying session, set to take place on Saturday at 15:30 and 19:00 local time respectively, the competition is heating up. With McLaren showing strong form, all eyes will be on whether they can maintain their pace when it counts the most.
In summary, the first day of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has set the stage for an exciting weekend of racing. With McLaren's dominance in both practice sessions and the unpredictability of street circuits, fans can expect a thrilling qualifying and race ahead.
