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Formula 1
Saudi Arabia GP
F1 Saudi Arabia GP Live Commentary and Updates
Saturday's practice and qualifying from Jeddah
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Gasly, on the mediums, claws back at the Hamilton gap to go second but still 0.401s off the Mercedes.
Stopwatch
Hamilton does indeed put in a good time of 1m28.314s to go almost a full second clear of the rest. Did somebody say spicy engine?
Sainz moves back up to second with a 1m29.294s while Hamilton, still on his hard tyres, is on a very good lap.
Earlier on Ocon was the culprit for creating another brief yellow flag but he avoids any serious problems in the track run off.
Stopwatch
The sister Red Bull of Perez goes top momentarily with a 1m29.511s but quickly gets bumped back by the Mercedes duo. Hamilton now fastest with a 1m29.197s, 0.234s faster than Bottas.
Stopwatch
Verstappen's first meaningful effort on the softs puts him third place with a 1m29.863s.
Stopwatch
Sainz slots into second place with a 1m29.746s on the medium tyres.
Yellow flag
Hamilton locks up his front-left tyre and runs on at Turn 1 to bring out the yellow flags. No major drama though, as he gets his Mercedes turned around and off he goes again.
Verstappen on a double warm-up lap on those softs so there won't be a representative lap time from him for a few minutes. Elsewhere Norris has popped up to fourth place.
Stopwatch
World championship leader Verstappen makes his way on to the track on the softs, just as Hamilton goes top with a 1m29.605s.
Stopwatch
Not for long as Raikkonen reclaims top spot from fellow Finn with a 1m30.189s.
Stopwatch
Bottas puts in a 1m30.394s to go top while Hamilton has backed out of his lap halfway around.
Bottas and Hamilton both into the thick of the FP3 running, while both Ferraris and Alpines plus Giovinazzi and Perez head out for the first time today.
They are replaced on the track by the Mercedes pair who are both on the hard tyres.
Just the exploratory single lap by Vettel and Stroll as they pit without setting a lap time. Most likely reconfiguring some changes from overnight.
Stopwatch
Raikkonen, on the penultimate F1 grand prix of his career, goes top with a 1m31.378s with Schumacher slotting into second 1.9s off.
Double Aston Martin on show too, as Vettel and Stroll head out for the first time today. Mazepin provides the first timed lap of 1m33.702s to go top, obviously.
Schumacher and Raikkonen give the Russian F1 rookie company on the track as the sun dips below the track barriers.
Mazepin gets the action underway as the rest of the F1 drivers make their typical leisurely start to FP3.
Lights green
Here we go then for FP3. 60 minutes of free running and the last track action before qualifying.
An early disclaimer before the session starts, with qualifying and the race starting under full night-time and dark conditions, the track conditions won't be so representative. But expect plenty of running with drivers still finding the limits on this track.
One key note that arrived overnight is the FIA clamping down on slow running on preparation laps. Race director Michael Masi has enforced a new restriction to stop drivers slowing to create a gap to those ahead between Turns 23-25.
Hamilton took the headlines yesterday by topping both Friday practice sessions on a solid day for Mercedes with team-mate Bottas completing a 1-2 in FP2. Title rival Verstappen was fourth in second practice beaten by AlphaTauri's Gasly.
Jeddah certainly delivered in terms of being fast and furious - as Leclerc found out in a heavy crash at the end of second practice last night! Thankfully he's OK and all 20 drivers are ready for FP3.
Green flag
Good afternoon one and all! Who is ready for some more F1 action? We thought so.
By: Autosport Staff
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