Fernando Alonso Leads the Way in Saudi Arabia as Max Verstappen Sets Early Pace

Aston Martin’s veteran driver Fernando Alonso stole the spotlight in Thursday’s floodlit second practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, topping the timesheets after Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen set the early pace in the afternoon session. The 42-year-old Spaniard showcased his skill and experience with a blistering lap time of one minute and 28.827 seconds, edging out Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.230 seconds.

Verstappen, who had dominated the first session, settled for third place in the second practice, 0.331 seconds behind Alonso’s impressive time. The session got off to a delayed start due to loose drain covers, a recurring issue that had plagued previous events. However, the problem was quickly addressed, allowing the session to proceed smoothly.

24hscore

Alonso’s stellar performance in the second practice session followed his solid showing in the first session, where he trailed Verstappen by just 0.186 seconds. Reflecting on his performance, Alonso remained cautiously optimistic, emphasizing the difference between free practice sessions and qualifying runs.

“I feel good. Obviously, it’s only free practice,” Alonso remarked. “As we saw last year and also in Bahrain, we are faster in free practice than in qualifying. I think we run different strategy in terms of fuel loads, engine modes and so on.”

Meanwhile, Russell acknowledged that Mercedes had not yet found the perfect setup for their car, noting that the second practice session was somewhat scrappy. Despite this, Russell remained optimistic about the team’s performance, particularly on single-lap pace.

“The times looked good on the single lap, and we’re not too sure yet where we’re at on the long runs,” Russell commented.

The second round of the record-breaking 24-race season is taking place at Jeddah’s Corniche circuit on Saturday night, a day earlier than usual to accommodate the start of Ramadan. Verstappen expressed confidence ahead of qualifying, acknowledging the tight competition but expressing satisfaction with Red Bull’s performance thus far.

“Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz also showcased strong performances, with Leclerc securing the fourth-quickest time in the second practice session. Sainz, who had been feeling unwell the previous day, participated in both sessions and finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, last year’s victor in Jeddah, demonstrated his consistency by posting competitive times in both sessions. The evening session saw Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, and Oscar Piastri rounding out the top ten.

Hamilton, however, faced a warning from stewards for impeding Williams’ Logan Sargeant during the second practice session, resulting in a fine for Mercedes. Despite the setback, the reigning champion remains focused on the task ahead as he prepares for the qualifying session.

Overall, the practice sessions provided valuable insights into each team’s performance ahead of the race weekend, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive event in Saudi Arabia.