Lando Norris was fastest from McLaren team-mate Oscar Pisatri as Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda crashed in second practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The session was disrupted towards the end when Tsunoda hit the inside and outside walls at the final corner with nine minutes remaining.
Tsunoda finished sixth fastest behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Williams’ Carlos Sainz, but left his mechanics with lots of work to do on the front-right corner of the car overnight.
“I just turned in too much and clipped the wall with the inside wheel,” said Tsunoda, who is in his third race weekend for Red Bull.
“It had damage, and after that just no control. Apologies to the team. The pace was looking good, so a shame.”
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Karun Chandhok was at the SkyPad to look back on Tsunoda’s huge crash into the wall
McLaren remain the team to beat in Jeddah as Norris beat Piastri by 0.163s and looked more comfortable throughout the session, with the Australian one of several drivers who clipped the wall.
Max Verstappen was third and 0.280s off championship leader Norris but Red Bull are more competitive compared to Bahrain on a track where the drivers can make a big difference.
Leclerc finished half a second adrift and was a long way clear of Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who ended up in 13th and 1.1 seconds behind Norris.
Hamilton was investigated for allegedly impeding Williams’ Alex Albon through the high-speed first sector but the stewards deemed no further action was necessary.
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Lance Stroll had a massive spin in his Aston Martin during P2, while Williams driver Alex Albon almost collided with Lewis Hamilton!
Norris leads the Drivers’ Championship by three points over Piastri, with Verstappen eight points back, while George Russell is 14 points behind.
Russell could only manage seventh as Mercedes struggled to switch on the soft tyre, while first-practice pace-setter Pierre Gasly was eighth ahead of Nico Hulkenberg and Albon.
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Highlights from Friday’s practice sessions at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
McLaren the team to beat again
As has been the case all season, McLaren have the upper hand on the field but the chasing pack appear to be closer over one lap compared to Bahrain.
Norris, though, set his best time with his second flying lap on the softs, which suggests there is more time in the car.
“McLaren have had a good day. They got their laps together,” said Sky Sports F1‘s Bernie Collins.
Red Bull are enjoying the smoother, high-speed Jeddah track and are McLaren’s closest challengers. However, Ferrari’s pace is unknown because Leclerc was fastest on the medium-tyre runs but struggled with traffic before eventually going fourth fastest.
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Aston Martin’s team principal Andy Cowell remained tight-lipped when asked about a potential seat for Max Verstappen
Hamilton has work to do and, with the top 11 separated by just one second, the seven-time world champion needs to close his six-tenths deficit to team-mate Leclerc.
Kimi Antonelli had a few scares throughout the session and Russell lacked genuine pace all Friday.
Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto did not compete in second practice due to a water leak.
Sky Sports F1’s Saudi Arabian GP Schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Saturday April 19
- 1.15pm: F1 Academy Race 1
- 2.05pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Three (session starts at 2.30pm)*
- 4.10pm: F2 Sprint
- 5.10pm: Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying build-up
- 6pm: SAUDI ARABIAN GP QUALIFYING
Sunday April 20
- 1pm: F1 Academy Race 2
- 2.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 4.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
- 6pm: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX*
- 8pm: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: Chequered flag
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 completes its first triple-header of 2025 in Jeddah with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
