The Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) obtained this Friday the fastest times in the free practice series for the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while a missile exploded in an oil distillery in the vicinity of the Jeddah track.
A moment of real uncertainty was recorded during the day of the Grand Prix. When the first free practice session was taking place, the Dutch agency BNO News reported that “a missile attack”, as a result of the war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, caused a gigantic fire in a state oil refinery of the Aramco company (sponsor of the highest automobile category), upon full impact. The Yemeni rebel group known as Houthis would have launched “missiles from drones”.
During testing, ahead of the second World Championship race of the 2022 season, the Ferrari driver once again slightly dominated the two rounds. In the first of these, the winner of the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend set a time of 1m. 30s. 772/1000. In the evening, meanwhile, Leclerc nailed a record of 1m. 30s. 074/1000, which became the fastest of the day in this first test session on the Saudi track.
The Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), meanwhile, achieved the second fastest times in both sessions. In the first, the current world champion was 116 thousandths, while in the next he set a time of 1m. 30s. 214/1000, which was placed at 140/1000 from Leclerc. And the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) achieved the third time in the afternoon session, with 1m. 30s. 320/1000; while the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) obtained the fourth place, with 1m. 30s. 360/1000.
The seven-time world champion, the British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), improved his record in the second series and climbed to fifth place, with 1m. 30s. 513/1000, putting him ahead of his compatriot and teammate George Russell at 1m. 30s. 664/1000, according to ‘Automundo’.
This Saturday, starting at 2:00 p.m. Argentine time, the qualifying test will take place that will order the starting grid for Sunday’s race, which is scheduled to start at the same time.