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Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP

F1 Saudi Arabian GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & FP2

Friday's action from the second round of the 2023 Formula 1 season

The 2023 F1 season resumes in Jeddah, with plenty of talking points to focus on, including reigning world champion and Bahrain GP winner Max Verstappen who missed his Thursday commitments due to a stomach bug, meaning his first appearance this weekend will be in first practice.

Following the Red Bull domination in Bahrain, all eyes will be on what its rivals can do in response at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and whether Aston Martin can maintain its surprise start having seen Fernando Alonso finish on the podium in the opener.

Charles Leclerc goes into the Saudi race with a 10-place grid penalty due to taking his third set of control electronics for his Ferrari after his Bahrain retirement.

Saudi Arabian GP first practice begins at 1:30pm GMT followed by second practice which starts at 5:00pm GMT. Qualifying takes place on Saturday at 5:00pm GMT to decide the starting grid for the race on Sunday at 5:00pm GMT.

By: Haydn Cobb, Megan White, Lewis Duncan, Stefan Mackley

Stopped
Summary
  • Verstappen fastest in FP2 for Saudi Arabian GP, having also topped the times in the opening session
  • Alonso second quickest from Perez, Ocon and Russell
  • Ferrari drivers Leclerc and Sainz finish 9th and 10th
  • FP3 gets underway tomorrow at 1330hrs GMT (1630 local time)
Leaderboard
  1. Verstappen, Red Bull
  2. Alonso, Aston Martin
  3. Perez, Red Bull
  4. Ocon, Alpine
  5. Russell, Mercedes
  6. Gasly, Alpine
  7. Stroll, Aston Martin
  8. Hulkenberg, Haas
  9. Leclerc, Ferrari
  10. Sainz, Ferrari
That's all from us for today, but we'll be back ahead of FP3 at 13.30 UK time tomorrow. Have a good Friday night!
Read the full FP2 report here: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-saudi-arabian-gp-verstappen-completes-friday-practice-clean-sweep/10444898/
Checkered flag
And that's FP2 finished! Verstappen led the session from Alonso and Perez
Charles Leclerc reporting more problems but Ferrari can't see anything on the data
Verstappen reporting "really bad" downshifts, especially at the last corner
Everyone has settled into the 1m35s now with 10 minutes left of the session
Leclerc is struggling with his clutch pedal. This does not bode well on a weekend where he already has a 10-place grid penalty...
Less than 20 minutes remaining and Verstappen still leads from Alonso and Perez. Ocon is fourth ahead of Russell in fifth.
Russell says "we need to make some changes." He's currently fourth, with Hamilton in 11th
This traffic is worse than the M25 at rush hour...
Verstappen is once again top with a 1m29.603s, with Alonso 0.2s behind him. The chase will be on in qualifying!
It's now a Red Bull 1-2 again - a familiar sight! Perez leads from Verstappen by 0.05s
Alonso is now running second, with a 1m29.985s. Can he repeat his podium from Bahrain on Sunday?
Despite his comfort struggles, Verstappen improves again into the 1m29s, with a 1m29.952s
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen is not happy with his headrest and says he "can't feel the car"
Close call there between Leclerc and Hulkenberg...
The Mercedes is looking a bit of a handful as Hamilton makes it into the top 10 in ninth place, while Russell is 11th
Further down the timesheet, Alonso, Ocon and Albon complete the top five
Stopwatch
The Red Bull pair are now leading again - quelle surprise! - with Verstappen ahead of Perez
Stopwatch
That didn't last long! Fernando Alonso has gone quickest for Aston Martin, 0.2s quicker than Verstappen
Stopwatch
Next to top the timesheet is Max Verstappen, with a 1m30.801s - just over a second slower than his earlier FP1-topping time
Stopwatch
Carlos Sainz has gone quickest for Ferrari with a 1m31.080 ahead of Fernando Alonso
Stopwatch
Lance Stroll is first with a time on the board, a 1m32.392s
Lights green
Green light at the end of the pitlane and it's time for FP2
During the break, Toto Wolff said Mercedes' improvements in 2022 created a "perfect storm" as the team became less inclined to question the flawed Formula 1 car concept it will now abandon. Read more: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/wolff-2022-f1-car-gains-created-perfect-storm-for-mercedes/10444851/

There's a 0% chance of rain in Jeddah, with a track temperature of 31.4C and an air temperature of 25.9C

In case you missed it earlier, Max Verstappen led Sergio Perez in a Red Bull 1-2 in FP1. Read the full report here: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-saudi-arabian-gp-verstappen-fastest-in-opening-practice/10444749/
Welcome back to our live updates ahead of FP2 for the Saudi Arabian GP!

As the sun sets in Jeddah, we'll take a quick breather before second practice which starts at 5pm GMT/8pm local time. Until then, go well!

An aerial view of the circuit

An aerial view of the circuit

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Breaking news
Here's the full report on Saudi Arabian GP first practice: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-saudi-arabian-gp-verstappen-fastest-in-opening-practice/10444749/
Plenty to digest from that session beyond the headline times, but remember, these conditions won't be representative of the key sessions later in the weekend. But Red Bull and Aston Martin go into the break before FP2 delighted.
So, Red Bull sitting pretty at the top, ahead of both Aston Martins and both Mercedes. A relatively restrained start by Ferrari with Sainz seventh and Leclerc 11th.