The floodlights of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit illuminated an electrifying second practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso stealing the show. The Spaniard’s blistering lap of 1:28.827 saw him top the timesheets, leaving George Russell and Max Verstappen in his wake.
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Alonso Shines Under Saudi Lights, Leading Russell and Verstappen in FP2
Following a brief delay, the session kicked off in conditions more representative of Saturday’s night race, in contrast to the sweltering heat of FP1. The cars wasted no time in hitting the track, but the start wasn’t entirely smooth for some drivers. Valtteri Bottas found himself in a spin after locking up into Turn 1, while the stewards confirmed they would investigate a potential impeding incident between Lewis Hamilton and Logan Sargeant.
As the qualifying simulations commenced, with teams evaluating the soft compound’s performance, Alonso delivered a blistering lap that remained unbeaten. The two-time world champion’s pace underscored Aston Martin’s impressive start to the season, with the team’s newfound competitiveness already causing ripples in the established order.
Russell’s impressive second-place finish, just 0.230 seconds behind Alonso, was a testament to Mercedes’ relentless efforts to bounce back from their 2022 struggles. Verstappen, fresh from topping FP1, slotted into third, followed closely by Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez, as the Red Bull and Ferrari drivers continued their battle for supremacy.
Lance Stroll’s sixth-place finish added to Aston Martin’s impressive showing, although he did receive a black and white flag for a track limits infringement. Carlos Sainz, Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, and Oscar Piastri rounded out the top 10, with the latter continuing his impressive debut season for McLaren.
While Alonso’s performance was undoubtedly the headline act, several intriguing subplots unfolded throughout the session. Hamilton’s reported loss of power in the final minutes added another layer of intrigue to Mercedes’ struggles, while the impending investigation into his potential impeding of Sargeant could have broader implications.
