Saudi Arabia Grand Prix – Free Practice 1: Pierre Gasly sets the fastest time ahead of Norris

Pierre Gasly (Alpine) set the benchmark time (1:29.239) during the first free practice session in Jeddah, ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Max Verstappen, in fourth, pointed out high-speed handling issues, while Mercedes and Ferrari showed inconsistent pace.

Unexpected Alpine at the forefront

In the sweltering heat of Jeddah, where the track temperature reached 46°C despite the late hour, Gasly created a sensation by clocking 1:29.239 on soft tires. This performance confirms Alpine’s progress after the Frenchman scored the first points at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend. It’s a positive start for this fifth Grand Prix of the season, the French team rejoiced as they seek to confirm their rise in power after a difficult start to the season.

McLaren maintains its momentum

The McLarens continued their momentum, with Lando Norris finishing just 7 thousandths of a second behind Gasly, while his teammate Oscar Piastri ranked fourth. The championship leader (77 points) did report some issues, notably an imbalance in certain high-speed corners, as evidenced by a slide at turn 22, one of the fastest on the circuit. Piastri, winner in Bahrain, also mentioned having lightly brushed the wall, a minor incident that highlights the challenge of this demanding urban track.

Ferrari in the rhythm, Red Bull falling behind

Charles Leclerc placed his Ferrari in third position, just 70 thousandths off the best time, confirming the good form of the Scuderia. His new teammate Lewis Hamilton ranked eighth, about six tenths behind.

Max Verstappen and his Red Bull only registered the ninth fastest time, with the four-time world champion complaining of a lack of grip in fast corners. “I am very unstable in the high-speed sections,” he reported to his team over the radio. A concerning observation on a circuit where Red Bull had achieved a one-two finish last year.

Mercedes in half-light

George Russell started the session strongly, leading the way on medium tires with a time of 1:29.674. However, unlike most other drivers, he did not improve his time when switching to soft tires, a recurring problem for Mercedes this season. The Briton ultimately finished sixth, while young rookie Kimi Antonelli reported significant vibrations in the brakes from the start of the session.

Incidents without seriousness

This first practice session on the Jeddah circuit, described as a track where one must gradually build confidence by specialists, was marked by several light contacts with the walls. Oliver Bearman (Haas), Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Jack Doohan (Alpine), and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) all reported having kissed the barriers, with no serious consequences for their cars. The proximity of the walls on this ultra-fast urban circuit remains one of the main challenges for the drivers, who must find the right balance between performance and caution.

The Free Practice 1 standings of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix