Fernando Alonso put Aston Martin on top of the timesheets for the first time in the new 2024 Formula 1 season as the Spaniard and Mercedes’ George Russell both outpaced Max Verstappen in Practice Two for the Saudi Arabian GP.
Alonso, who finished only ninth at last week’s season-opening race in Bahrain, had already impressed to go second-fastest to Verstappen in first practice around the high-speed Jeddah street track before setting the outright pace on a 1:28.827 in the second session under the floodlights.
Russell was 0.230s back in second with Verstappen, the dominant victor at last Saturday’s season-opener, a further tenth adrift in the lead Red Bull.
Charles Leclerc took fourth for Ferrari ahead of the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll, Alonso’s team-mate, to confirm Aston Martin’s strong start to the event.
Lewis Hamilton was eighth, 0.677s off the pace, and faces a trip to the stewards after the session for allegedly impeding Logan Sargeant in a high-speed near-miss mid-way through the session.
Hamilton was running slowly in his Mercedes on a cool-down lap and was going through Turn 10 when Sargeant came up rapidly on a faster timed lap behind him, with the American having to take avoiding action over the right-hand kerb to avoid a collision.
“Mate, come on! It’s too dangerous,” said an unimpressed Sargeant over team radio.
For his part, Hamilton said over Mercedes team radio: “I didn’t realise someone was on a lap. I was trying to get out of the way for Sainz and all of a sudden there was a Williams there.”
Sainz, who had been following close behind Hamilton as Sargeant came up quickly behind both of them, said: “What Hamilton did there was super dangerous. Like he was in the middle, I couldn’t get out of the way.
“Sargeant nearly crashed because of him.”
That was one of several instances of near-misses during the session on the wall-lined circuit which features several blind corners, with a big differential in speed between drivers on fast and slow laps.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Saudi Arabian GP schedule
Friday March 8
- 11.55am: F1 Academy Race 1
- 1.10pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Three (session starts at 1.30pm)
- 3.05pm: F2 Sprint Race
- 4.10pm: Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying build-up
- 5pm: SAUDI ARABIAN GP QUALIFYING
Saturday March 9
- 12pm: F1 Academy Race 2
- 1.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 3.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP build-up: Grand Prix Saturday
- 5pm: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX
- 7pm: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: Chequered flag
- 9.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP highlights
Watch the second round of the new F1 season – the Saudi Arabian GP – live on Sky Sports F1 this coming week, with qualifying on Friday and the race at 5pm on Saturday. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership for just £21 a month for 12 months
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Francis Ngannou takes place on Friday March 8, live on Sky Sports Box Office with the main event expected around 11pm. Book Joshua v Ngannou now!