The 24-year-old Leclerc continued his triumph from the inaugural race of the year in Bahrain. In the first practice he set a time of 1: 30.772, later he improved his maximum by another seven tenths of a second. The second Verstappen was always more than a tenth slower. The Dutch Red Bull pilot wants to correct the failed entry into the season in Saudi Arabia, as he resigned a week ago in Sáchir due to a fuel pump failure and did not score.
–
Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz, who finished second in the Bahrain GP, set fourth and third time in practice. The Spanish driver thus confirmed Ferrari’s successful entry into this season.
–
Max Verstappen with a Red Bull monopost during the first training session in Jeddah.Photo: Hamad I Mohammed, Reuters
Last year’s defending champion Hamilton gradually accelerated from ninth place in the opening part and finished fifth in the following. But he lost almost half a second on the fastest Leclerc. Right behind him was his teammate George Russell, who corrected fifteenth place in the first part.
–
Kevin Magnussen from Haas, on the other hand, had a surprising fifth place in Bahrain. Due to technical problems, the Danish rider did not start the timed lap in the first part and finished last in the second practice.
–
Lewis Hamilton during training at the Saudi Arabian GP.Photo: Hamad I Mohammed, Reuters
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is also missing in Saudi Arabia because he still has a positive coronavirus test. He was replaced again by his compatriot Nico Hülkenberg in the Aston Martin team, who was always sixteenth.
–
The program will continue with Saturday’s third practice and then qualifying from 18:00 CET. The race will take place a day later at 19:00.
–
| Training for GP Saudi Arabia Formula 1 cars | |
|---|---|
| The first training | |
| 1. Leclerc (Mon./Ferrari) | 1:30,772 |
| 2. Verstappen (Niz./Red Bull) | -0,116 |
| 3. Bottas (Fin./Alfa Romeo) | -0,312 |
| 4. Sainz (Šp./Ferrari) | -0,367 |
| 5. Gasly (Fr./AlphaTauri) | -0,545 |
| 6. Cunoda (Jap./AlphaTauri) | -0,733 |
| Second training | |
| 1. Leclerc | 1:30,074 |
| 2. Verstappen | -0,140 |
| 3. Sainz | -0,246 |
| 4. Perez (Mex./Red Bull) | -0,286 |
| 5. Hamilton (Brit./Mercedes) | -0,439 |
| 6. Russell (Brit./Mercedes) | -0,590 |
—
