Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Hamilton clocks fastest time in opening practice
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton made the early running on the new track in Jeddah as he clocked the fastest time in the opening practice session on Friday for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Mercedes’ Hamilton posted the quickest time of 1min 29 786secs on the new street circuit with its series of high-speed swerves that appeared to get the thumbs-up from the drivers who were experiencing it for the first time. Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton’s teammate, was 0.25secs behind. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen produced his best lap right at the end of the session to split the two Mercedes, coming in 0 056secs behind the Briton.
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was fourth fastest, ahead of Antonio Giovinazzi in an Alfa Romeo and the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), Fernando Alonso (Alpine) and Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) rounded out the top 10.
