The drainage covers caused another issue, as the delay of FP2 was caused by a loose drainage cover discovered in front of the garages. This required a thorough check of all other covers on the track.
If this problem becomes recurrent with the generation of Formula 1 cars in 2024, the FIA and the tracks must find a solution. It is not acceptable to have these delays happening all the time. Fortunately, this time no car was damaged and no driver was affected. However, it cannot be assumed that the same will be true every time.
Moving on to the actual practice session, Fernando Alonso emerged as the fastest driver. The two-time F1 champion clearly enjoyed driving his AMR24 around the Jeddah track. George Russell came in second, showing the speed of the Mercedes team. However, Lewis Hamilton struggled to keep up with his teammate’s pace.
Max Verstappen, the current F1 champion, finished third in the Red Bull, over three tenths of a second behind Alonso. Although Alonso’s lap was impressive, his high speed in the speed trap suggests that the Mercedes power unit in the Aston Martin was performing well.
Verstappen’s best lap was compromised by traffic, so it would be unwise to completely discount him. In the first practice session, Verstappen was the fastest, but the competition was close behind. Despite the track conditions being far from ideal for qualifying and the race, all teams made use of the different Pirelli tire compounds – Hard, Medium, and Soft.
However, it is FP2 that will provide a better understanding of the hierarchy among the fastest street teams in F1, especially those behind Red Bull. This session will take place at night, just like qualifying and the grand prix.
Lance Stroll experienced first-hand the challenging nature of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. He hit the walls at Turn 22 with significant force, resulting in a broken wheel and a slow return to the pits.
If you missed the incident, you can watch it below.
Mercedes showed promising speed in FP1, with Alonso not far behind Verstappen’s time in the Aston Martin. Ferrari also showed competitiveness. However, it is important not to read too much into the early results and instead focus on FP2.
The start of the second practice session was delayed by ten minutes due to a loose drain cover. Haas provided the update on their social media, stating that all covers needed to be checked before the session could begin.
Finally, ten minutes after the original start time, FP2 began under the floodlights of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Exciting news! FP2 will start at 8:10 pm local time (immediately).
The weather conditions were cooler, with track temperatures measuring 31 degrees Celsius, while ambient temperature was 25 degrees.
Most teams opted to start the session using Medium Pirelli tires, except for the RBs, who chose Softs. Additionally, a McLaren, a Haas, a Williams, and a Sauber used Hards.
Bottas had a minor incident at Turn 1 in his Sauber, ending up in the run-off area. However, he quickly recovered and continued.
Ten minutes into the session, Zhou was caught off guard by Sainz driving slowly, while Sargeant had a tense moment with Hamilton. Fortunately, there was no contact in either case.
The incident between Hamilton and Sargeant will be investigated by the stewards after the session, as announced.
Perez expressed his dissatisfaction over the team radio, complaining about the bounce in turns 10 and 11. Meanwhile, Russell complained about his unstable W15 at high speed.
After 20 minutes of practice, Verstappen led the time sheets, followed by Alonso in second and Sainz in third. Perez, Russell, and Leclerc respectively occupied the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions.
Verstappen was pushing the limits early on, as shown by his proximity to the wall.
With 35 minutes remaining, the drivers returned to the track after making setup changes and the Soft tires started to be used for qualifying simulations.
Norris expressed his dissatisfaction with the behavior of his MCL38, reporting over the radio that he was bottoming out too much.
Alonso had a moment while on a fast lap with Leclerc and his teammate, Stroll, who were driving slowly. He described the situation as dangerous over the radio.
Sainz had a close encounter with a McLaren, while Russell also had a scary moment with Tsunoda. The latter incident was particularly close and alarming.
After the qualifying simulations, the order was as follows: Alonso, Russell, Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Stroll, Sainz, Hamilton, Gasly, and Piastri.
The drivers then proceeded with runs using high fuel loads. Hamilton complained about the rear of his W15, stating over the radio that it was sliding and difficult to control.
Shortly after, Hamilton experienced a loss of power and had to slow down on the track before returning to the pits.
Stroll received a warning from the race director to avoid the painted line at the pit entry.
Alonso set the fastest time in FP2 with a lap of 1:28.827, which was over half a second slower than Perez’s pole time in 2023. Russell was second fastest in the Mercedes, trailing Alonso by 0.230 seconds.
Verstappen was the third fastest driver in the RB20, 0.331 seconds behind, closely followed by Leclerc in fourth place.
Report in progress…
© 2024
The world-renowned racing driver, Carlos Silva, achieved another impressive victory at this weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix. The race, which took place at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo, Brazil, was full of excitement and twists.
Silva, known for his exceptional skill and fearlessness on the tracks, dominated the race from the start. He overtook his competitors with ease and maintained a comfortable lead throughout the laps.
However, the race was not without incidents. During lap 20, there was a collision between Silva and the French driver, Jean Dupont. The accident resulted in Dupont’s exit from the race and sparked a heated discussion between the two drivers.
Despite the incident, Silva quickly recovered and continued to lead the race. He crossed the finish line with a 10-second advantage over the second-place driver, securing his victory.
With this win, Silva further solidifies his position as one of the greatest drivers of all time. His skill and determination are unmatched, and he continues to amaze racing fans worldwide.
The next race of the Formula 1 season will be held next month at the Monza circuit in Italy. Fans are eager to see if Silva can maintain his dominance and achieve another impressive victory. Don’t miss it!
