In a stunning turn of events at the first practice session of the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly outshined championship leader Lando Norris to claim the top spot on the leaderboard. Gasly’s blazing 1m29.239s lap time left Norris trailing by a mere 0.007s, sending shockwaves through the paddock.
Following a strong showing in Bahrain, where Gasly secured a fifth-place qualifying position and a fourth-place start due to a grid penalty, Alpine seems to be hitting their stride after a lackluster start to the 2025 season. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari trailed in third place, just 0.070s behind Gasly’s pace.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top four, with the leading pack separated by a razor-thin 0.102s. Piastri showcased McLaren’s new upgrades, including a revamped diffuser and changes to the rear brake duct winglet, adding an element of intrigue to the team’s performance.
As the session unfolded, familiar faces like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen found themselves in unfamiliar territory, finishing in eighth and ninth place respectively, within six tenths of Gasly’s scorching lap. Young talents like Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson made their presence known, with Lawson set to face scrutiny for disregarding race director instructions.
The practice session also saw surprises at the back of the grid, with Haas proving to be the slowest team and Ollie Bearman surviving a close encounter with the Turn 1 wall, resulting in front wing damage. As the teams fine-tune their strategies and setups, the stage is set for a thrilling weekend of racing in Jeddah.
