Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – As Formula 1 drivers took to the high-speed circuit in Jeddah, traffic became a major issue during the practice session. Lando Norris found himself held up by Max Verstappen, expressing frustration over the lack of communication on the radio. Another incident occurred when Lewis Hamilton impeded Alex Albon, leading to Hamilton being called to the stewards for review after the session.
Charles Leclerc set the early pace during the practice session, with George Russell later taking over the top spot after a tire change. As times continued to drop, Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri jostled for the lead before Norris ultimately set the fastest time of the session with a 1m 28.267s.
Despite Norris’s impressive lap, Piastri finished just 0.163s behind, with Verstappen trailing by a further tenth. Leclerc led the charge for Ferrari in fourth place, followed closely by Carlos Sainz of Williams. Yuki Tsunoda claimed sixth but ended the session in the barrier after hitting the wall, causing a red flag period near the end of the session.
As drivers scrambled to practice starts in the final minute, the order remained unchanged. The session showcased the competitive nature of the drivers as they adapted to the challenging circuit in Jeddah, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of racing in Saudi Arabia.