Max Verstappen maintained Red Bull’s strong start to the 2024 Formula 1 season by topping Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in first practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who began his quest for a fourth successive drivers’ title with a dominant victory in Bahrain last week, finished almost 0.2s clear of Alonso at the Jeddah street circuit.
Sergio Perez, who beat team-mate Verstappen to victory in Saudi Arabia last year, also showed solid pace to take third as Red Bull threatened to continue the form that saw them win 21 of 22 races in 2023.
George Russell appeared the far more comfortable of the two Mercedes drivers as the Brit took fourth, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton almost 0.3s slower in eighth.
Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were fifth and sixth respectively, with Lando Norris seventh for McLaren as team-mate Oscar Piastri struggled in 15th.
Lance Stroll was ninth for Aston Martin after missing about 20 minutes off the session following a high-speed collision with the barrier at the inside of Turn 22, from which he was fortunate to avoid major damage.
While Red Bull continued to impress, Thursday’s second session, live on Sky Sports F1 at 5pm, provides the same night-time conditions that both Friday’s qualifying and Saturday’s race will take place under, and therefore should be a much more reliable indicator of the pecking order for the remainder of the weekend.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Saudi Arabian GP schedule
Thursday March 7
- 4.45pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Two (session starts at 5pm)
- 6.15pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
- 7.15pm: The F1 Show
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 practice on Thursday, 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!