Red Bull driver Max Verstappen during practice for the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on March 17, 2023.
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) – Defending champion Max Verstappen dominated the first practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. His teammate Sergio Pérez from Red Bull finished in second place, Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin was third.
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Photo gallery: World Championship of Formula 1 cars in the 2023 season
Two-time world champion Verstappen arrived at the scene of the second race of the new season due to illness only today, but just like two weeks ago, he dominated in the victory in Bahrain. He beat Pérez by 483 thousandths.
The Aston Martin cars lined up behind the pair of Red Bull pilots and confirmed their good form at the beginning of the year. Two-time champion Alonso, who finished third in Bahrain, was seven tenths of a second behind, Lance Stroll in fourth place already lost almost a second.
George Russell and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton lined up in fifth and sixth places. Both Mercedes pilots were more than a second behind the fastest Verstappen.
Carlos Sainz from Ferrari was seventh, his teammate Charles Leclerc, who will drop ten places at the start on Sunday due to the replacement of engine control electronics components, was eleventh .
Practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championship race in Jeddah:
First practice: 1. Verstappen (Netherlands/Red Bull ) 1:29.617, 2. Pérez (Mex./Red Bull) -0.483, 3. Alonso (Sp./Aston Martin) -0.698, 4. Stroll (Can./Aston Martin) -0.960, 5. Russell -1.154, 6. Hamilton (both Brit./Mercedes) -1,170.
18:00 second practice.
