Pierre Gasly topped the timing screens at the end of FP1 for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the opening session of Round 5 of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship at the 6.174-kilometre Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Carrying the form he enjoyed in Bahrain, Gasly, in his Alpine, ended the hour-long session under daylight fastest of all. The Ollie Oakes-led team is on a roll in desert conditions with the A525. The veteran was P4 in Qualy and P6 a week ago.
The shiny strip of racing tarmac through the Saudi desert is a daunting challenge in these Formula 1 cars. Only for the bravest of the brave. No rookie among the top ten is testament to the fact that this is a 'big balls' venue.
In the other Alpine, Jack Doohan was coming to terms, like his fellow rookies, with the difference between an F2 car and an F1 car around this place. He ended P16, almost a second down on his experienced teammate.
FP1 today seemed more like a test session, with wings and bits trialled, as the session will probably have little relevance to what they expect in FP2 and the race. But credit to Alpine for giving Gasly a car capable of being fastest on the opening day.
Nevertheless, 2025 F1 world championship leader after four rounds, Lando Norris, was a tad slower (0.007s!) in P2, with Bahrain winner and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri a tenth off the top time in P4.
Ferrari in the hunt?
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari split the pair of McLarens—the 0.090s gap augurs well for the Reds. In the other car, Lewis Hamilton was lacking about half a second as he too came to terms with the Ferrari around Jeddah and not the Mercedes. Apparently, it is a thing. Read more here>>>
Although Hamilton had a moment or two that would have shot up the old heartbeat, it was a clean session with no broken metal at the end of it for anyone. For now...
Williams driver Alex Albon was fastest of the Mercedes brigade—albeit 0.367s off the top time—enough to pip George Russell to P5 on the screens, with Carlos Sainz next up in P7. Although lacking a couple of tenths to his Thai teammate, the car seems to be warming to the Spaniard.
Max Verstappen, subject of non-stop speculation about his future with the energy drinks team in FP1, is expecting a better weekend here than in Bahrain. He was the fastest of the Red Bull four-car posse.
But P9 and over half a second shy of top spot is more ammo for the performance bail-out clause in his contract. Unless RBR can find something in the package between now and Qualifying, it may be another sorry weekend for the World Champion.
However, it is encouraging to see Yuki Tsunoda not far off Verstappen, as the Japanese driver adapts to the Lion's Den.
No easy time for F1 rookies in Jeddah
Baby Bulls Liam Lawson ended the session in P11 and Isack Hadjar in P15 on what was a day of learning for the rookies. Credit to them all for keeping it out of the walls. How they perform this weekend, relative to their teammates, will be telling—as the learning curve at Jeddah appears steeper than in most places. And it isn’t even nighttime yet.
Lawson (if he can still be called a rookie) was the quickest of them, with Antonelli P13 in the Mercedes. Ollie Bearman—who made his Grand Prix debut here last year—was P18, and Sauber’s Gabriele Bortoleto slowest of all.
Aston Martin would be anonymous if it were not for the Verstappen chitter-chatter. True to script, no improvement, it appears. Adrian Newey is said to be working only on the AMR26 and not the current sh!tbox.
They need help. Fernando Alonso was down in P14 and three-quarters of a second off Gasly’s effort, with Lance Stroll ending P19, over half a second down on his teammate.
Saudi GP FP1 Best Times
Saudi GP: How FP1 Unfolded
60 minutes to go: Green light. FP1 is Go!
Lando Norris in the McLaren is the first car out as Free Practice 1 gets underway.
Lando Norris in the McLaren is the first car out as Free Practice 1 gets underway.
57 minutes to go: Brake issues for Antonelli
Kimi Antonelli reports a "massive vibration on the brake" but remains on track.
Kimi Antonelli reports a "massive vibration on the brake" but remains on track.
55 minutes to go: Traffic troubles
Lando Norris finds himself navigating heavy traffic approaching the final corner, with 18 cars on circuit.
Lando Norris finds himself navigating heavy traffic approaching the final corner, with 18 cars on circuit.
53 minutes to go: Piastri sets early pace
Oscar Piastri clocks a 1:31.548 to establish the initial benchmark.
Oscar Piastri clocks a 1:31.548 to establish the initial benchmark.
51 minutes to go: Norris to the top
Lando Norris sets a 1:30.454 to go quickest, 0.113s faster than Piastri. Max Verstappen is close behind, just 0.148s off.
Lando Norris sets a 1:30.454 to go quickest, 0.113s faster than Piastri. Max Verstappen is close behind, just 0.148s off.
50 minutes to go: Russell quickest
George Russell posts a 1:30.425 to go top as drivers continue on medium tyres.
George Russell posts a 1:30.425 to go top as drivers continue on medium tyres.
47 minutes to go: Bearman brushes the wall
Oliver Bearman locks up at Turn 1 and grazes the barrier, but escapes serious damage and returns to the pits.
Oliver Bearman locks up at Turn 1 and grazes the barrier, but escapes serious damage and returns to the pits.
42 minutes to go: Piastri clips the wall
Oscar Piastri also brushes the barriers and heads back to the garage.
Oscar Piastri also brushes the barriers and heads back to the garage.
39 minutes to go: Tsunoda up to fourth
Yuki Tsunoda slots in behind Verstappen, pushing into fourth place.
Yuki Tsunoda slots in behind Verstappen, pushing into fourth place.
36 minutes to go: Lawson under investigation
Liam Lawson is under investigation for “failing to follow race directors instructions,” possibly due to slow laps.
Liam Lawson is under investigation for “failing to follow race directors instructions,” possibly due to slow laps.
34 minutes to go: Honda teams take new engines
All four Honda-powered cars, including Red Bull and Racing Bulls, take new power unit elements for this round.
All four Honda-powered cars, including Red Bull and Racing Bulls, take new power unit elements for this round.
30 minutes to go: Norris fastest on softs
At the halfway point, drivers switch to softs. Norris tops the timesheets with a 1:29.246. Piastri is third, Verstappen only fourth.
At the halfway point, drivers switch to softs. Norris tops the timesheets with a 1:29.246. Piastri is third, Verstappen only fourth.
29 minutes to go: Verstappen struggling
Max Verstappen radios: "My first sector, in Turns 1 and 2 I can't turn the car." He ends up 0.572s behind Norris.
Max Verstappen radios: "My first sector, in Turns 1 and 2 I can't turn the car." He ends up 0.572s behind Norris.
28 minutes to go: Russell unable to improve
George Russell fails to better his earlier time on the softer tyres, continuing a season-long trend for Mercedes.
George Russell fails to better his earlier time on the softer tyres, continuing a season-long trend for Mercedes.
26 minutes to go: Leclerc up to fourth
Charles Leclerc improves to fourth, while Hamilton sits ninth.
Charles Leclerc improves to fourth, while Hamilton sits ninth.
24 minutes to go: Piastri up to second
Oscar Piastri puts in a purple final sector to make it a McLaren one-two, behind Norris.
Oscar Piastri puts in a purple final sector to make it a McLaren one-two, behind Norris.
22 minutes to go: Gasly goes fastest
Pierre Gasly surprises everyone by going quickest in the Alpine, topping the timesheets.
Pierre Gasly surprises everyone by going quickest in the Alpine, topping the timesheets.
21 minutes to go: Leclerc just 0.070s off
Leclerc moves into third, closing the gap to Gasly to just 0.070s.
Leclerc moves into third, closing the gap to Gasly to just 0.070s.
18 minutes to go: Long runs on softs
Drivers begin long runs on soft tyres with heavier fuel to assess tyre degradation.
Drivers begin long runs on soft tyres with heavier fuel to assess tyre degradation.
13 minutes to go: Sainz furious over unsafe overtake
Carlos Sainz overtakes a Ferrari in a high-speed section and fumes on the radio: "That is so dangerous. You cannot let me by there."
Carlos Sainz overtakes a Ferrari in a high-speed section and fumes on the radio: "That is so dangerous. You cannot let me by there."
10 minutes to go: Tyre switch
Ferraris and Red Bulls return to medium tyres after soft runs. Most drivers have completed several laps by now.
Ferraris and Red Bulls return to medium tyres after soft runs. Most drivers have completed several laps by now.
8 minutes to go: Verstappen frustrated again
Verstappen radios: "I'm very loose in the high speed, especially." Red Bull continue to chase balance issues.
Verstappen radios: "I'm very loose in the high speed, especially." Red Bull continue to chase balance issues.
4 minutes to go: Norris slides at Turn 22
Lando Norris suffers a big snap of oversteer at one of the fastest corners but avoids the barriers.
Lando Norris suffers a big snap of oversteer at one of the fastest corners but avoids the barriers.
1 minute to go: Heated Williams radios
Alex Albon warns over team radio that he "will crash" if asked to carry more speed into high-speed corners. Carlos Sainz is also told not to recharge his battery.
Alex Albon warns over team radio that he "will crash" if asked to carry more speed into high-speed corners. Carlos Sainz is also told not to recharge his battery.
Chequered flag: Gasly tops the FP1 session
Session ends with a few brushes of the wall but no major incidents.
Pierre Gasly finishes as the surprise pace-setter, ahead of Norris and Leclerc. The top three are separated by just 0.070s. Piastri, Albon, Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Verstappen, and Tsunoda complete the top 10.
Session ends with a few brushes of the wall but no major incidents.
Pierre Gasly finishes as the surprise pace-setter, ahead of Norris and Leclerc. The top three are separated by just 0.070s. Piastri, Albon, Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Verstappen, and Tsunoda complete the top 10.
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