Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR24. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah,
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR24. Formula 1 World…

2024 F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix practice: As it happened

Re-live all the action from Thursday's two practice sessions at the F1 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

07 Mar 2024
18:17
That's it for today

With FP2 coming to an end, we bring our live coverage on Thursday's F1 action to a close. 

We will of course be back to cover final practice and qualifying tomorrow, and we hope you can join us then. 

18:14
FP2 report
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR24. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah,
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR24. Formula 1 World…
18:12
Results from FP2

Here's the full results from second practice...

18:10
Chequered flag

The chequered flag flies and that is it for FP2 and Thursday's track action in Jeddah. 

It's Alonso who leads the way from Russell's Mercedes and Red Bull driver Verstappen. 

18:07
Hamilton not happy with car

Hamilton is not happy with the rear-end of his Mercedes W15, complaining it is "sliding" all over the place through the high-speed sections. 

The seven-time world champion has just gone wide before reporting: "I'm coming in mate, I've got no power." 

18:04
Hamilton to meet stewards at 6.30pm

Hamilton will visit the stewards at 6.30pm UK time to explain his take on his near-miss with Williams driver Sargeant in FP2. 

Sargeant will also be present to give his perspective. 

17:59
Sparky!
Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber C44 sends sparks flying. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Saudi Arabian Grand Prix,
Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Sauber C44 sends sparks flying. Formula 1 World…
17:53
Focus switches to long runs

It looks like that might be that for the fast laps with drivers starting to switch focus onto race running on the harder tyre compounds. 

Just under 20 minutes left on the clock.

17:47
Impressive lap from Russell

Hello there... Russell has just improved - including a purple middle sector - to go second-fastest and 0.230s off Alonso. 

17:46
Mercedes fourth and seventh

Russell has popped his Mercedes into fourth, 0.381s behind Alonso. 

Hamilton has struggled to match the pace of his teammate so far today and goes seventh, a couple of tenths behind Russell. 

17:44
Verstappen up to P2

Verstappen improves to move into second but he's still some three-tenths adrift of Alonso's effort. 

17:38
Big lap from Alonso!

Wow. That's a big lap from Alonso on soft tyres as he posts a 1m28.827s, improving by seven tenths. 

The Aston Martin driver ends up 0.353s clear of Leclerc and 0.473s faster than Perez. 

Stroll manages to go fourth ahead of Verstappen, who is 0.550s adrift of Alonso's time. 

Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso
17:35
Hamilton will be investigated after FP2

That dangerous-looking near-miss between Hamilton and Sargeant will be investigated after the session. 

Hamilton claims he had no warning that Sargeant was coming up behind him on a fast lap. 

17:26
Verstappen now quickest

Meanwhile, Verstappen has edged ahead of Alonso with a time that is just 0.017s faster than the Aston Martin driver. 

17:25
Close call between Hamilton and Sargeant

Sargeant just had to bail out of a quick lap after finding a slow-moving Mercedes of Hamilton in his way. 

Sainz, who was just behind Hamilton, reported over team radio: "What Hamilton did there was super dangerous." 

Race control has noted Hamilton/Sargeant for possible impeding. 

17:23
Alonso goes even faster

Alonso has improved once more and now has the fastest time of the weekend so far. 

A 1m29.560s puts him 0.327s clear of the Red Bulls. 

17:21
Perez again quicker than Verstappen - but not Alonso

Perez and Verstappen have completed another run and go second and third respectively. 

Perez is just 0.041s down on Alonso, with Verstappen a further 0.010s back. Super close. 

17:19
Alonso lowers the pace

Alonso now goes fastest on a 1m29.846s on the medium compound. That is just two tenths slower than Verstappen's session-leading time from FP1. 

17:16
Perez quicker than Verstappen

After the opening runs of FP2, it's Perez who is the fastest Red Bull driver. 

He pips teammate Verstappen by just 0.020s with a 1m30.427s. 

Alonso sits third, as Ricciardo slots his RB into fourth ahead of the second Aston Martin of Stroll. 

17:14
Bottas spins at Turn 1

Bottas has just gone for a spin down at Turn 1.

The Sauber driver managed to avoid the barriers and continues on his way without further drama. 

17:10
We are underway

After that slight delay, we have a green light at the end of the pitlane and FP2 is go! 

17:06
Start time confirmed

FP2 will begin at 5.10pm UK time. 

17:04
Checks for loose drain cover bolts

It has emerged that the reason for the delay is so that Race Control can check the circuit for potential loose bolts for drain covers in the pit lane. 

16:59
Delayed start to FP2

Race control have just announced that the start of FP2 has been delayed. No reason has been given. 

16:51
Focus turns to on-track matters

For now, the focus returns to on-track matters and second practice. 

This night session will be much more representative than FP1, which took place during the day and was topped by Red Bull's Max Verstappen. 

Fernando Alonso wasn't too far behind as he split the Red Bulls in his Aston Martin. 

Will anybody outpace the Red Bulls in FP2? 

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