F1 Chaos in Saudi Arabia: Hamilton Faces Tough Day as Crash Disrupts Practice S….Readmore
Lewis Hamilton had a frustrating and chaotic outing during Friday’s practice sessions at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with multiple incidents – including a red flag and a near-collision – adding to his woes. The seven-time world champion struggled for pace throughout both FP1 and FP2, capping off a difficult day at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The second practice session was particularly eventful, with a major crash triggering a red flag and halting the session. The incident caused confusion and disrupted the teams’ run plans, forcing many drivers to abandon their scheduled long runs and qualifying simulations. The red flag added another layer of complexity to what had already been a tricky session due to rapidly changing track conditions.
Hamilton’s problems, however, went beyond lap times and strategy. During FP2, the 40-year-old found himself under investigation by race stewards following a near-miss with Williams driver Alex Albon. As Hamilton appeared to be slowing on the racing line, Albon was forced to take evasive action, prompting a sharp reaction over the team radio. Albon later described Hamilton’s actions as “dangerous,” while the stewards confirmed that the incident would be reviewed after the session concluded.
The drama didn’t end there. A separate high-speed crash elsewhere on the circuit further rattled the grid, contributing to what became an unpredictable and disjointed practice day. While no serious injuries were reported, the incident underscored the unforgiving nature of the high-speed Saudi street circuit, which continues to challenge even the most experienced drivers.
To add to the surprises, Max Verstappen also encountered unexpected issues in qualifying simulations. Despite heading into the weekend as the clear favorite, the reigning champion received a shock as he failed to top the time sheets, with his performance affected by the red flag disruptions and the crash.
As the paddock prepares for Saturday’s qualifying session, teams will be scrambling to gather as much data as possible under time constraints. For Hamilton and his team, there is clear work to be done overnight. With tensions running high and the competition as fierce as ever, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend is already shaping up to be one of the most dramatic rounds of the 2025 season so far.
