Verstappen tops first practice - Results

Verstappen tops first practice – Results

07/03/2024

Just a week following the Bahrain spectacle, F1 moves to Jeddah, targeting hierarchy insights amid significant team updates.

Red Bull brings a revised rear part to reduce cooling and lower downforce on this fast track. Mercedes F1 only introduces an evolution in the rear wheel fins to adjust downforce on this part of the car.

Ferrari, like Red Bull, focuses its updates on the rear wing to reduce downforce, as does McLaren. RB F1 brings modified front and rear wings, along with a revised engine cover to adapt to the cooling needed in Jeddah.

Williams F1 introduces an updated beam wing, the lower part of the rear wing. Aston Martin also brings a downforce-adapted rear wing and revised front brake ducts. Alpine, Haas, and Stake bring no new updates for this race.

Carlos Sainz was absent yesterday due to illness, but the Spaniard returned to the paddock this Friday and participated in FP1. The question remains how close to peak condition the Ferrari driver is.

Lap times evolved throughout the session as many drivers initially took to the track on hard tires during these FP1. Times dropped when the medium tires were used, but it was obviously on softs that the serious work began.

However, the sun had not yet set, so conditions were not representative of what qualifications and the race will be, since the weekend’s main sessions obviously take place at night.

Lando Norris was the first to set a fast lap on soft tires, with a time of 1’30″424. Max Verstappen then surpassed it with 1’30″014, before George Russell beat him by three thousandths of a second, with 1’30″011.

Verstappen complained of “strange engine behavior in turn 13,” not understanding what was happening. This did not stop the Dutchman from improving his previous time. The Red Bull driver made a strong impression with 1’29″659, while Russell returned to the track.

The Briton improved his time and came within 0″280 of Verstappen, while Sainz then Charles Leclerc placed third. Sergio Pérez was also on the move, securing second place with the third fastest sector overall.

Fernando Alonso was the only one who had only run on hard tires until 15 minutes before the session’s end, and the Spaniard went out on softs, securing second place, 0″186 off Verstappen.

The standings remained unchanged, so Verstappen finishes on top ahead of Alonso, Pérez, Russell, and Leclerc. Nine drivers are within a second, while the Alpine drivers seem a bit better than last week. For now, Haas appears to be lagging behind.

Pos.DriverTeamTimeLaps
01Max VerstappenRed Bull Honda RBPT RB201:29.65924
02Fernando AlonsoAston Martin Mercedes AMR241:29.84524
03Sergio PérezRed Bull Honda RBPT RB201:29.86823
04George RussellMercedes W151:29.93923
05Charles LeclercFerrari SF-241:30.03024
06Carlos SainzFerrari SF-241:30.16424
07Lando NorrisMcLaren Mercedes MCL381:30.23126
08Lewis HamiltonMercedes W151:30.23621
09Lance StrollAston Martin Mercedes AMR241:30.58018
10Alex AlbonWilliams Mercedes FW461:30.74726
11Valtteri BottasStake F1 Kick Sauber C441:30.78326
12Daniel RicciardoRB Honda RBPT VCARB 011:30.91725
13Esteban OconAlpine Renault A5241:30.94527
14Logan SargeantWilliams Mercedes FW461:30.96627
15Oscar PiastriMcLaren Mercedes MCL381:30.97722
16Yuki TsunodaRB Honda RBPT VCARB 011:31.03625
17Pierre GaslyAlpine Renault A5241:31.04625
18Guanyu ZhouStake F1 Kick Sauber C441:31.13124
19Nico HülkenbergHaas Ferrari VF-241:31.41119
20Kevin MagnussenHaas Ferrari VF-241:31.57718

Saudi Arabia practice 1 2024. Saudi Arabia practice 1 2024

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