Breaking: Lewis Hamilton in despair as crash triggers chaos A…read more
Lewis Hamilton Faces Turmoil Amidst Chaotic Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Practice Sessions
Lewis Hamilton endured a challenging start to his Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, as both Friday practice sessions (FP1 and FP2) were marked by drama, chaos, and mechanical misfortunes across the grid. The seven-time world champion found himself under scrutiny and lacking pace, while several unexpected incidents disrupted the flow of the day in Jeddah.
During Free Practice 2, Hamilton found himself at the center of controversy after a close-call incident involving Williams driver Alex Albon. The situation arose when Albon had to take swift evasive action to avoid a potential collision with Hamilton’s Ferrari. The stewards launched an investigation into the incident, with Albon branding the Briton’s maneuver as “dangerous.” The outcome of that investigation was pending at the close of FP2, adding further tension to an already eventful session for Hamilton.
Shortly after, the session was thrown into disarray when Yuki Tsunoda lost control of his Red Bull at the final corner and crashed. His incident triggered a red flag, temporarily halting the session while marshals cleared debris from the track. Although it was initially unclear whether FP2 would resume, the green light returned with just seconds left, allowing the remaining 18 cars to scramble back onto the circuit. This led to utter chaos as drivers vied for track position in the final moments, with Lando Norris having to execute a quick overtake to avoid plowing into a congested cluster of cars preparing for practice starts.
Earlier in the day, Free Practice 1 was not without its own drama. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto was ruled out of the second session due to a fuel leak in his Sauber, a major setback as FP2 was his only opportunity to complete representative laps under night conditions.
In a surprising turn during FP1, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly topped the timesheets on soft tyres, narrowly edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.007 seconds. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc slotted into third, ahead of Oscar Piastri, while Hamilton managed only eighth place, just behind Williams’ Carlos Sainz. Max Verstappen, surprisingly off the pace, finished in ninth.
The FIA also noted an investigation into Liam Lawson following FP1. The former Red Bull driver was reprimanded for not following race director instructions. However, he avoided a grid penalty or any sporting sanctions.
FP2 saw McLaren dominate under the lights, with Norris setting the pace at 1:28.267, followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri, who was just 0.163 seconds adrift. Verstappen recovered some form to go third, while Leclerc placed fourth for Ferrari. Williams’ Carlos Sainz impressed with a solid fifth, while Tsunoda’s earlier crash did not prevent him from setting the sixth-fastest time before his incident. George Russell was seventh for Mercedes, with Gasly once again performing well to secure eighth. Rounding out the top ten were Nico Hulkenberg in the Kick Sauber and Alex Albon for Williams.
Hamilton could only manage 13th in FP2, continuing his difficult day and placing over a second behind the session leader Norris. It was another disappointing session for Aston Martin, with both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll ending up in 15th and 18th, respectively.
FP2 Top 5:
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:28.267
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.163
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.28
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) – +0.00
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.070
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.102
5. Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.367
As Hamilton continues to chase performance in his Ferrari, he’ll be hoping for a more stable showing in qualifying and the race itself. With the field tightly packed and tension already simmering, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix promises more drama ahead.
