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Pierre Gasly Shocks with Top Spot in Jeddah’s First Free Practice Session, Norris and Leclerc Close Behind

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
April 18, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Pierre Gasly Shocks with Top Spot in Jeddah’s First Free Practice Session, Norris and Leclerc Close Behind

In an unexpected twist, Pierre Gasly led the opening free practice session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, setting the pace ahead of Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, who completed the top three. The session, which began calmly, saw Carlos Sainz in seventh and Fernando Alonso in thirteenth, both making solid early impressions.

The highly anticipated Saudi Arabian Grand Prix kicked off with the first free practice session on one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar. As the green light flashed, most drivers took to the track, following their respective Friday programs. As is typical in the early stages, the medium tire was predominantly used, setting the tone for the weekend.

McLaren’s strong start to the season was evident as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showed competitive pace on the medium compound, with McLaren dominating the early minutes of the session. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz made his mark in the top 10, using the hard compound Pirelli tire and being the only driver to do so during the session. Sainz reported positive feedback from his car, which bodes well for his weekend.

As the session progressed into its latter stages, the shift to the soft tires for qualifying simulations revealed the true pecking order. While McLaren remained a strong presence at the top, it was Gasly’s unexpected “astronomical” lap that saw the Alpine driver take the lead. Norris, Leclerc, and Piastri followed closely behind, all within a tenth of a second.

Another surprise was the performance of Williams, with both drivers impressing and securing spots within the top 10. On the other hand, Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez had a disappointing session, finishing in ninth and tenth, respectively. Despite their relatively low positions, the surprising closeness between the two Red Bull drivers stood out—Yuki Tsunoda finished just three thousandths behind Verstappen, highlighting the competitive nature of the field.

As the weekend progresses, all eyes will be on Gasly’s unexpected top spot, but the Jeddah circuit promises more action and unpredictability, with McLaren and Red Bull aiming to recover their positions as the session progresses.

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