Charles Leclerc topped a delayed FP2 session in F1 Saudi Arabian GP from Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, with neither Ferrari seeing the flag.
There was delay to kick-off FP2 in F1 Saudi Arabian GP after an attack at Aramco distribution center towards the end of the FP1 session. There was fire blowing in the air and about 10 miles off the Jeddah Chronicle street circuit.
The 15 minutes delay was due to a late meeting before FP2 involving F1 teams, drivers, promoters, FOM and the FIA. Despite some concerns, the session kick-started with the weekend likely to continue as well as per promoters Saudi Motorsport Company.
They noted about ensuring the safety of the people at the track in a statement, but another meeting is due to take place at 22:00 local time. Meanwhile, the track action saw Ferrari’s Leclerc lead the way with a 1m30.074s in FP2 of F1 Saudi Arabian GP.
He once again headed Red Bull’s Verstappen (1m30.214s), with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz (1m30.320s) and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (1m30.360s) sealing off the Top 4 places for the two teams. It wasn’t a cleanest sessions for either of the Ferrari cars though.
Sainz didn’t manage to continue after a brush with the wall on the right side, Leclerc couldn’t as well after hitting his front-left. It wasn’t majorly damaged but enough to end their sessions. Verstappen, Sainz and Perez set their best time on the medium tyres.
The Mercedes pair followed in fifth and sixth places. It was Lewis Hamilton (1m30.513s) ahead of George Russell (1m30.664s), with McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m30.735s) having a better session in seventh from Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m30.760s).
Teammate Fernando Alonso (1m30.944s) missed out on a Top 10 in 11th after a solid save from him at one point, with Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas (1m30.832s) and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m30.886s) ahead of him in ninth and 10th.
The Japanese racer’s session ended just as the chequered flag was after a suspected engine issue. His teammate Pierre Gasly – with new power unit parts – was 12th, with Haas’ Mick Schumacher 13th from leading Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.
His teammate Nico Hulkenberg was 16th behind McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo, who set his best time on the medium compound. Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou slotted in 17th from the Williams pair of Nicholas Latifi and Alexander Albon.
Haas’ Kevin Magnussen rounded out the 20 runners, but the Dane only got 13 laps after he stopped on track due to another seemingly hydraulic issue.
https://twitter.com/SAUDIMOTORSPORT/status/1507415649961734147?s=20&t=hd61fkC2139S53-GpbWROQ
FP2 Classification (60/60 mins)
Leclerc goes quickest, Verstappen not far behind#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/wbexNoEn49
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 25, 2022
Here’s how F1 Saudi Arabian GP FP1 panned out