Saudi Arabian GP practice as it happened

By: Haydn Cobb, Lewis Duncan

Summary


	Leaderboard Leclerc, Ferrari, 1m30.074s Verstappen, Red Bull, 1m30.214s Sainz, Ferrari, 1m30.320s Perez, Red Bull, 1m30.360s Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m30.513s Russell, Mercedes, 1m30.664s Norris, McLaren, 1m30.735s Ocon, Alpine, 1m30.760s Bottas, Alfa Romeo, 1m30.832s Tsunoda, AlphaTauri, 1m30.886s
	Summary Leclerc tops delayed FP2 despite crash Magnussen stops with engine issue Tsunoda stops late on Hulkenberg back in at Aston Martin as Vettel recovers from COVID

Status: Stopped

21:32 For now though we will wrap up the F1 live text commentary coverage on a busy Friday at Jeddah. Have a lovely evening and go well!

21:30

This one could roll on for a while tonight. We'll bring you the latest news and F1 reaction when we get it.

21:24 Here's the round-up on an eventful FP2 both on and off the track: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-saudi-arabian-gp-leclerc-leads-verstappen-and-sainz-in-fp2/9316168/

21:20 So four cars in total fail to see out the duration of FP2, with Magnussen stopping on track midway through before both Ferraris tapped the walls and picked up damage and Tsunoda completed the set with a suspected engine issue.

21:18 Tsunoda is out of his F1 car and is waiting for a lift back to the paddock. I wonder how tricky it is to get a taxi at this time of night in Jeddah.

21:17 Tsunoda's AlphaTauri conks out right at the end of the session and the Japanese driver pulls over to the side of the track.

21:15 That's the end of FP2. Leclerc stays quickest from Verstappen and Sainz.

21:13 "Rears fully gone now," Latifi reports over team radio having done 14 laps on his set of mediums. Given the race is 50 laps on Sunday, that could mean a lot of pitstops.

21:09 Ferrari has confirmed both drivers won't resume FP2 due to damage to their cars. How much will that come back to hurt the team come Sunday?

21:08

21:07

Both Red Bulls and Mercedes drivers are on the mediums during the high fuel running, as Perez shows how to ride the kerb through Turns 16-17. He got a proper grind going before hopping off.

21:03

21:03 Leclerc is out of his Ferrari and his session is over after hitting the wall earlier. Sainz also hasn't come out on the track yet since his slight interaction with the barrier.

21:02 With 15 minutes to go in FP2, it is time for the race runs. A big spread on tyre picks for this part of the session with a show of softs, mediums and hards across the drivers.

20:59 Briefly looking away from FP2, F1 chiefs have made clear to teams and drivers the Saudi Arabian GP will proceed as planned despite an attack on a nearby oil facility. Here's the latest: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-tells-drivers-saudi-gp-will-go-ahead-despite-nearby-attack/9315821/

20:58 Moments earlier Sainz also nudged the outside wall at Turn 13 but appears to have got away with it. Not a great couple of minutes for Ferrari.

20:56

Leclerc has bumped into the inside wall with his front-left and damaged his Ferrari. He trundles back to the pits but that looks set to wreck his race run with 19 minutes of FP2 to go.

20:54 During the last few minutes the top of the timing screen has taken a familiar picture for 2022. Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz and Perez split by 0.286s and then the two Mercedes a couple of tenths back.

20:51 The green flag is out, as you were.

20:50 The Virtual Safety Car has been called so Magnussen's stricken Haas came be recovered at Turn 14. The TV replays show Magnussen riding a kerb, not too heavily, but it triggers the stoppage.

The 2022 Formula 1 season resumes with Friday practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Summary