#SaudiArabianGP FP1: @Max33Verstappen quickest ahead of @Alo_Oficial, #Perez. #F1

Verstappen Saudi Arabian GP FP1 – Reigning world champion Max Verstappen topped the time-sheets in the opening FP1 session at the Saudi Arabian GP ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso who was second and his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez rounding out the top three.

Verstappen posted the benchmark of a 1:29.659 on the C4 red side-walled softer compounds and was 0.186 seconds quicker than Alonso whilst Perez was a further 0.209 adrift of his team-mate in third.

The daylight session greeted the drivers at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit like last weekend – in conditions not represented of those experienced in qualifying and the race.

Breezy conditions with a 20km/h headwind down the pit straight according to Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz’s team radio, ensured the back end of the track added further challenges to the sweeping corners in the second and third sectors.

In their sighting tours, drivers were split on the C3 yellow-marked Mediums and C2 Hard rubber: as sole-tyre supplier Pirelli selected the same compounds as last year.

Mercedes’ George Russell set the best effort in the opening half-hour, hitting P1 with a 1:30.806 before lowering it down to the benchmark of a 1:30.554.

McLaren’s Lando Norris then put together competitive laps on the softs following the halfway point, posting a 1:30.424, which was beaten by Verstappen’s 1:30.014 on the reigning world champion’s initial effort on the C4 red-branded tyre.

By a very narrow 0.003 seconds, Russell reclaimed top spot and remained there for five minutes, before Verstappen laid down the gauntlet with the first time below the 1:30’s bracket – which proved to be the quickest tour of the session.

Russell drew closer with a 1:29.939 on his next flyer in an attempt to hold second, but Perez’s 1:29.868 proved enough to jump up to second.

Alonso who was looking competitive on his stint with the harder white side-walled C2 compounds, set a 1:29.845 to oust Perez – whom he battled with for the lead in the early proceedings of last year’s event.

Having fallen behind Alonso and Perez, Russell would be content with fourth overall, narrowly beating Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz who rounded out the top six.

Norris placed seventh in the time-sheets, and 0.572 seconds off Verstappen’s session-topping benchmark and 0.005 seconds clear of Mercedes’ Sir Lewis Hamilton who took eighth.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll recovered from an early hit of the inside wall at turn 21 to post the ninth-fastest time. The Canadian clipped the barrier with his front-left wheel and immediately, as his wheel cover came off following the impact. Williams Racing’s Alexander Albon completed the top ten runners.

Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas ended opening practice outside the top ten in 11^th place and in-front of RB’s Daniel Ricciardo who was 12^th and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon who finished 13^th in the classification.

Williams Racing’s Logan Sargeant was 14^th and in-front of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who placed 15^th and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda who came 16^th in the order.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took 17^th in the order and ahead of Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu who placed 18^th as Haas F1 Team pairing Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen brought up the rear.

You can see the full Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024 Free Practice 1 Results Classification at the link: https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2024/races/1230/saudi-arabia/practice-1.html

#F1 STC #SaudiArabianGP 2024 Race Preview. #Formula1 #SaudiArabiaGP