Saudi Arabian GP: Charles Leclerc edges Max Verstappen in Practice One with Mercedes off the pace

Charles Leclerc fastest from Max Verstappen by a tenth of a second, but is the Red Bull driver the man to beat? Mercedes adrift in first practice; Watch Practice Two from the Jeddah street circuit live on Sky Sports F1 at 5pm

Charles Leclerc continued his flying start to the new Formula 1 season by setting the pace in Saudi Arabian GP first practice for Ferrari.

Leclerc, who claimed his first win since 2019 at the opening Bahrain GP, posted a session-topping 1:30.772 on his final flying lap to top Max Verstappen by a tenth of a second, with the pair renewing their rivalry at the front following their scintillating wheel-to-wheel battles last weekend.

Verstappen, however, did appear the faster driver in the session and displayed ominous pace in the Red Bull, with his best time coming on the hard tyre compared to Leclerc’s on the softs.

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Max Verstappen almost hit the wall during first practice ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas also started well, running third for Alfa Romeo ahead of Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari.

Mercedes, while harbouring hopes of a stronger Saudi weekend after struggling for pace in Bahrain, could not join rivals Ferrari and Red Bull with their W13 in the opening practice session.

Lewis Hamilton was the lead silver car in ninth, 1.5s off the pace, with team-mate George Russell only 15th.

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Go onboard with McLaren driver Lando Norris in the opening practice session in Saudi Arabia.

Hamilton said Mercedes were still struggling with their ‘porpoising’, bouncing along the high-speed straights on the Corniche circuit.

Second practice, in more representative evening conditions for qualifying and the race, follows later on Friday, with the session live at 5pm on Sky Sports F1 with build-up from 4.45pm.

More to follow.

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Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was forced to pull out of P1 after suffering an early reliability issue in Saudi Arabia.

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