Lewis Hamilton Faces Tough Start in Saudi Arabian GP as Practice Sessions Turn Chaotic
Lewis Hamilton’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend got off to a turbulent beginning, as both Friday practice sessions were plagued with disorder, unexpected incidents, and lackluster performance from the seven-time world champion. The high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit delivered a dramatic setting that saw Hamilton struggling to find pace in his Ferrari, while chaos unfolded around him.
The second free practice session (FP2) proved to be particularly challenging for Hamilton. A near-miss involving Williams driver Alex Albon saw him under investigation by the stewards. The incident occurred when Hamilton appeared to impede Albon, forcing the Thai-British driver to take evasive action to avoid a potentially dangerous collision. Albon voiced his frustration, labeling the maneuver as “dangerous,” prompting the FIA to open a formal review. As of the end of FP2, the outcome of that investigation had not been confirmed, adding further strain to an already difficult session for Hamilton.
Just minutes after the Hamilton-Albon incident, FP2 descended into further disarray when Yuki Tsunoda, driving for Red Bull, lost control and crashed into the barriers at the final corner. The impact brought out the red flag, halting the session to allow marshals to clear debris from the circuit. Initially, it appeared FP2 might not resume, but with seconds left on the clock, the track went green again. The frantic final moments saw drivers scrambling to get in one last flying lap or prepare for practice starts, leading to a chaotic scene. Lando Norris had to pull off a quick overtake to avoid a pile-up of cars congregating near the pit exit, making for an uncharacteristically disorderly finish to the session.
Hamilton’s struggles extended beyond the on-track incidents. In terms of performance, he could only manage 13th place in FP2, over a full second off the pace set by McLaren’s Lando Norris. With rivals consistently finding speed, Hamilton and Ferrari seemed out of sync, raising concerns about their competitiveness heading into qualifying.
Earlier in the day, FP1 delivered its own surprises. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly shocked the paddock by topping the timesheets, narrowly edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.007 seconds. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, followed by Oscar Piastri. Hamilton ended the session in eighth, just behind Williams’ Carlos Sainz, highlighting an uncharacteristically modest performance from the multiple-time world champion. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen also underperformed in FP1, placing ninth—a rare sight in recent seasons.
Another setback came in the form of rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who was unable to participate in FP2 due to a fuel leak in his Sauber. The issue proved costly, as the night session would have been his only chance to gather meaningful data under race-like conditions. With limited track time, the young driver now faces an uphill task heading into the rest of the weekend.
Adding to the list of investigations, the FIA also looked into former Red Bull driver Liam Lawson after FP1. Lawson was found to have failed to follow the race director’s instructions, but fortunately for him, the punishment stopped at a reprimand with no grid penalty or sporting consequence imposed.
In FP2, McLaren appeared to have found their groove under the floodlights. Norris topped the session with a time of 1:28.267, while his teammate Piastri was close behind, just 0.163 seconds slower. Verstappen showed signs of recovery with the third-fastest time, followed by Leclerc and Sainz. Tsunoda, despite his crash, had earlier set the sixth-best time. George Russell delivered a solid seventh for Mercedes, with Gasly again showing form in eighth. Nico Hulkenberg in the Kick Sauber and Albon rounded out the top ten.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin endured another disappointing day. Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll failed to make a significant impact, finishing 15th and 18th, respectively. The midfield battle remains intensely competitive, with mere tenths separating several drivers across the sessions.
Here’s a summary of the top performers from each practice:
FP2 Top 5:
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:28.267
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.163
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.280
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.482
5. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.675
FP1 Top 5:
1. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:29.239
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.007
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.070
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.102
5. Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.367
As the teams gear up for qualifying, Hamilton faces mounting pressure to turn things around. With both pace and consistency proving elusive, the Ferrari driver will need a clean session and a strategic approach to claw his way back into contention. Given the tightly packed field and rising tensions, the remainder of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend promises even more drama on and off the track.
