Alonso fastest in Saudi GP FP2 as Hamilton faces investigation

Fernando Alonso set the pace under the lights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit after Thursday’s practice for Formula 1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Alonso’s benchmark of 1:28.827s saw him sit two-tenths clear of closest competitor George Russell.

Reigning champion Max Verstappen was third fastest ahead of Charles Leclerc. Both drivers were a further tenth adrift of the Spaniard’s best time.

An initial run on the Medium tyres saw Sergio Perez sit fastest ahead of Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen by just 0.04s.

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Perez’s benchmark was soon beaten by the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso before FP1 pacesetter Verstappen reclaimed the top spot by 0.017s.

Logan Sargeant escaped drama after a near miss with Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz. The Williams driver had been on a flying lap and was forced to take to the run-off when he found the Ferrari and Mercedes travelling slowly at Turn 11.

Hamilton and Sargeant will both face the Stewards after the session.

Alonso returned to the top spot after the field’s first attempts on the Soft compound with a time of 1:28.827s, three-tenths faster than Verstappen and Leclerc.

Russell improved to second fastest after the qualifying simulations, however, he too was unable to get within two-tenths of Alonso’s best lap.

Verstappen finished the session third, however, the Dutchman will be buoyed by the strength of his race simulation. The Red Bull driver’s long-run pace on the Mediums was some four-tenths faster than ultimate pacesetter Alonso.

Lance Stroll sat sixth in the second Aston Martin ahead of Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton.

The seven-time champion complained of a loss of power in the final few minutes of the session after a brief trip through the run-off on a flying lap.

After a dismal first race weekend in 2024, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly found himself ninth-fastest under the lights followed by Oscar Piastri who ensured McLaren’s presence in the top ten.

Yuki Tsunoda led the lower order ahead of Lando Norris, Sauber’s Guanyu Zhou and the Williams of Alex Albon.

15th-placed Esteban Ocon was the first driver outside of a second of Alonso’s session-topping pace. The Frenchman was joined by Sargeant, the Haas duo, Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas who completed the order.