As uncertainty surrounded the paddock of Formula 1 on Jeddah Corniche with the column of fire and smoke on the horizon, Ferrari and Red Bull did their job on the track, to show that once again the fight for victory will be between them. Of course, after starting the second practice session 15 minutes late after the first meeting of drivers and teams to see what was going to be done with the dispute of the Saudi Arabian GP.
Once we get to work, Leclerc took the initiative again in the second free practice just as he did in the first, both times ahead of Verstappen. By just over a tenth on both occasions, with the difference that the Monegasque set the best time of the day on soft and the champion on medium, just like sainz and Czech. Despite the leadership of Charles, it was not all good news for Ferrari, because both he and Carlos touched the walls (the Madrid native rather brushed against them) and ruined their long runs.
Mercedes, so close and so far
For their part, the Silver Arrows had to settle for watching the fight between the F1-75s and the RB18s from behind, although not too far away… Both Hamilton and Russell dropped just over half a second to Leclerc to finish fifth and sixth on Friday. So close and yet so far. The classification will dictate if they are able to keep the distance or they will have to wait for the failure of their rivals to try to aspire to the podium.
Norris was seen from above with the McLaren, ahead of Ocon, Bottas (third in Free Practice 1) and Tsunoda in a top 10 that brushed Alonso, eleventh after a miraculous save. The Asturian, by the way, had a new engine after Alpine detected a leak in the one he drove in Bahrain. Does not penalize.