In race style night conditions almost unique to desert-based venues, FP2 for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix provided a true glimpse of the pecking order ahead of Round 4, with McLaren fastest, as expected, but Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc are lurking with intent.
This Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a beast—big balls territory—with little room for error, despite the frequent tyre brushes painting the walls and escape roads being abused. The difference between hero and zero here is razor-thin when it matters.
Credit to 19 drivers who, for 110 minutes, mostly kept their machinery intact. That is, until the end was in sight and Yuki Tsunoda comprehensively bashed the wall in the Red Bull while chasing Max Verstappen. It was a big hit, as all crashes are at this daunting venue. Yuki is okay. Red Bull’s second driver conundrum continues.
At the sharp end, McLaren unleashed enough firepower to annex P1 and P2, with Lando Norris topping Oscar Piastri by a tenth and a half. But their nemesis—remember Japan—Max Verstappen found the go-faster switch that had abandoned him a week ago in Bahrain. This is not going to be a walk on the Corniche for the Papayas. Starting with Qualifying on Saturday.
Leclerc looking good for Ferrari, Hamilton is not
Also hovering within striking distance of the top time was Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari clacking in just over a quarter of a second back—good enough for P4. Their former driver, Carlos Sainz, was P5 in the Williams. The Spaniard finally looks in charge of the FW27, rather than the other way around. Alex Albon was P10, a quarter second shy of his teammate.
Notably, the man who replaced Sainz at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, has been a shadow of the driver who won that China Sprint Race, as he toiled to P13—over one second down on Charles in the other Red car. Head-scratching times for LH44.
Back to Red Bull... If any positives are to be drawn from Tsunoda’s evening, it’s that he was good for P6 despite the prang—four tenths off Max is decent under the circumstances and the 'curse' of that second RBR seat.
Like their former driver, Mercedes will also be scratching their heads after FP2. They appear a mile off their customer team hogging the top of the timesheets. George Russell was P7 but 0.706s back, with Kimi Antonelli in P11 at a venue that is not kind to rookies.
Norris vs Piastri for pole or Verstappen and Leclerc to gatecrash?
Pierre Gasly topped FP1 in the Alpine, but the reality check was more like P8 in FP2. Still, a good showing and a strong day for the French team. In the other car, rookie Jack Doohan was over a second down on his veteran teammate. He’ll need to find a chunk of time in the next 24 hours to be relevant on Saturday—and Sunday, for that matter.
Nico Hülkenberg hauled the Sauber into P9, which will be a boost for the backmarkers. But spare a thought for their rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who sat in the pits all session, precious track time lost as his crew replaced the faulty fuel tank.
A glance at the wrong side of the timesheets shows Haas in trouble, with Oliver Bearman P16 and Esteban Ocon slowest of all in the night session in Jeddah.
Next up, FP3 on Saturday will offer a chance for some final tweaks ahead of Qualifying tomorrow night, when we’ll see what McLaren really have, as Lando vs Oscar is set to take center stage. But Verstappen can draw on his Suzuka mojo and steal it from them, while Charles Leclerc has not added to his 26 F1 career pole positions since Baku 2024.
Saudi GP FP2 Best Times
Saudi Arabian GP: How FP2 Unfolded
60 minutes to go: FP2 underway
Most of the field heads out immediately to maximise running in the key evening session.
Most of the field heads out immediately to maximise running in the key evening session.
58 minutes to go: Bortoleto out with fuel leak
Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto is ruled out of the session due to a fuel leak.
Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto is ruled out of the session due to a fuel leak.
52 minutes to go: Hamilton uses run-off
Lewis Hamilton runs straight on in the final sector. Kimi Antonelli also locks up in the early stages.
Lewis Hamilton runs straight on in the final sector. Kimi Antonelli also locks up in the early stages.
51 minutes to go: Norris sets early pace
Lando Norris leads early on mediums with a 1:29.272, two tenths ahead of Charles Leclerc.
Lando Norris leads early on mediums with a 1:29.272, two tenths ahead of Charles Leclerc.
50 minutes to go: Stroll spins at Turn 1
Lance Stroll has a big spin but avoids the barriers. Yellow flags briefly waved.
Lance Stroll has a big spin but avoids the barriers. Yellow flags briefly waved.
48 minutes to go: Hamilton under investigation
Lewis Hamilton is reported for impeding Alex Albon, who had to take evasive action. The incident will be investigated after the session.
Lewis Hamilton is reported for impeding Alex Albon, who had to take evasive action. The incident will be investigated after the session.
45 minutes to go: Piastri almost matches Norris
Oscar Piastri gets within 0.001s of team-mate Norris. McLaren looking closely matched again.
Oscar Piastri gets within 0.001s of team-mate Norris. McLaren looking closely matched again.
43 minutes to go: Norris blocked by Red Bull
Norris complains of being blocked in traffic, saying “no one uses radios.”
Norris complains of being blocked in traffic, saying “no one uses radios.”
43 minutes to go: Norris lifts on fast lap
Norris sets purple sectors but lifts before the line. Piastri goes fastest instead.
Norris sets purple sectors but lifts before the line. Piastri goes fastest instead.
40 minutes to go: Leclerc goes quickest
Charles Leclerc sets the pace with a time just outside the 1:28s. Hamilton sits 0.6s back in eighth.
Charles Leclerc sets the pace with a time just outside the 1:28s. Hamilton sits 0.6s back in eighth.
34 minutes to go: Soft tyre runs begin
George Russell goes top, then Carlos Sainz beats him. Soft tyre flying laps now under way.
George Russell goes top, then Carlos Sainz beats him. Soft tyre flying laps now under way.
33 minutes to go: Verstappen goes fastest
Max Verstappen sets purple sectors to go nearly four tenths ahead of Sainz.
Max Verstappen sets purple sectors to go nearly four tenths ahead of Sainz.
32 minutes to go: Russell reports bouncing
George Russell complains of high-speed bouncing over team radio.
George Russell complains of high-speed bouncing over team radio.
30 minutes to go: Hadjar brushes wall
Isack Hadjar clips the barrier and returns to the garage for checks.
Isack Hadjar clips the barrier and returns to the garage for checks.
27 minutes to go: Norris goes fastest
Lando Norris posts a 1:28.267 to lead by 0.163s over Piastri. Verstappen is another tenth back in third.
Lando Norris posts a 1:28.267 to lead by 0.163s over Piastri. Verstappen is another tenth back in third.
25 minutes to go: Ferrari times not representative
Leclerc and Hamilton both have untidy first soft runs. Ferrari expected to try again.
Leclerc and Hamilton both have untidy first soft runs. Ferrari expected to try again.
21 minutes to go: Leclerc improves to fourth
Leclerc completes a lap on softs but is four tenths off Norris. Hamilton does not complete a second flyer and remains 13th.
Leclerc completes a lap on softs but is four tenths off Norris. Hamilton does not complete a second flyer and remains 13th.
20 minutes to go: Norris extends advantage
Norris improves again on softs, widening his gap to Piastri.
Norris improves again on softs, widening his gap to Piastri.
17 minutes to go: Piastri clips wall
Oscar Piastri lightly touches the wall, explaining why he aborted a lap. Albon and Antonelli also had earlier barrier contacts.
Oscar Piastri lightly touches the wall, explaining why he aborted a lap. Albon and Antonelli also had earlier barrier contacts.
13 minutes to go: Race simulations begin
Qualifying sims wrap up as teams begin long runs on heavier fuel. Albon switches to hard tyres for Williams.
Qualifying sims wrap up as teams begin long runs on heavier fuel. Albon switches to hard tyres for Williams.
9 minutes to go: Tsunoda crashes at final corner
Yuki Tsunoda hits the barrier after clipping the wall on entry. The car is damaged but the driver is unhurt.
Yuki Tsunoda hits the barrier after clipping the wall on entry. The car is damaged but the driver is unhurt.
1 minute to go: Session resumes after red flag
The race director restarts the session to allow drivers time for practice starts.
The race director restarts the session to allow drivers time for practice starts.
Chequered flag: Norris tops FP2
Lando Norris ends the session fastest with a 1:28.267, capping a strong day for McLaren.
Verstappen and Leclerc appear the main challengers for pole.
Hamilton finishes a disappointing 13th and will have work to do ahead of qualifying.
Lando Norris ends the session fastest with a 1:28.267, capping a strong day for McLaren.
Verstappen and Leclerc appear the main challengers for pole.
Hamilton finishes a disappointing 13th and will have work to do ahead of qualifying.
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