F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Gasly Leads FP1, McLaren Shows Promising Pace

Pierre Gasly emerged as the unexpected leader during the initial practice session for the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

As the McLaren team is once again anticipated to lead the competition, it was the Alpine of Gasly which ultimately clocked the fastest time with an impressive 1m29.239s.

It saw him pip Lando Norris to the top position, taking the lead McLaren just 0.007 seconds behind, with team-mate Oscar Piastri in fourth as the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc was third.

Piastri immediately set the pace at the start of the weekend’s running although Norris – who said he was not heading into the fifth round of the championship full of confidence – soon displaced the Australian.

Having again been as open with the media as he has become known for, Norris said on Thursday he did not expect to arrive in Jeddah having corrected the issues he is experiencing with the driveability of the McLaren – even if he will start Sunday’s race three points clear at the top of the championship.

While he and Piastri continued to push one another, the other usual suspects - George Russell for Mercedes and the reigning world champion Max Verstappen - were once again there or thereabouts at the business end of the timing screens.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli - Getty Images

Russell outpaced the McLaren pair until they made their way through the pit lane for fresh soft tires as the one-hour session reached its midpoint.

Following that, it seemed like business as usual when Norris posted another quickest lap, but Gasly then overtook the championship leader with an impressive performance of his own.

Williams also demonstrated strength during the initial laps on the tight and swift Jeddah Corniche Circuit, with Alex Albon fifth and Carlos Sainz seventh, sandwiching Russell.

Lewis Hamilton finished more than half a second behind his Ferrari teammate Leclerc and had to be content with an eighth-place finish. Verstappen, who once again complained about the lack of balance in his Red Bull, came in ninth. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda managed to stay competitive with his Red Bull counterpart, securing tenth place.

Liam Lawson , dropped from Red Bull to Racing Bulls before the Japanese Grand Prix, came in at number 11, just under a tenth of a second behind the performance of his substitute.

F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - First Practice Session Results