F1

The possibility of the grand prix in Jeddah becoming the first race next season emerged late last year when Australian Grand Prix bosses revealed that Saudi ...

So, I will not be surprised if Saudi in the near future will host two races.” “F1 is growing. “We want to go there when the city is completed. “But we need to discuss with FOM and the teams, and then we'll make our decisions. “It's either going to be Saudi or Bahrain that can have a race before Ramadan,” he said. If it's the best solution we would love to have the opening race, but nothing is set now.”

Sky Sports F1 has announced that former Formula 1 strategy head Bernie Collins will be joining the team this year.

[Listen to the Sky Sports F1 Podcast](https://www.skysports.com/podcasts/36578/12822277/sky-sports-f1-podcast) [Download the Sky Sports App](https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/ContentPromo) 'We all need a kick'](https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12835403/lewis-hamilton-has-no-plan-to-leave-mercedes-after-poor-start-to-2023-formula-1-season) [Street racing returns: When to watch Saudi Arabian GP live on Sky](https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12828809/saudi-arabian-gp-2023-watch-formula-1s-return-to-jeddahs-street-circuit-live-on-sky-sports-f1) [Get Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/watch/get-sky?DCMP=afc-shop:ec_upgrade

Follow the reaction to the F1 free practice day for the Saudi Arabian GP live. Keep up to date with everything that happens during FP2 and afterwards at the ...

In the blog, we will provide you with the latest developments during FP2 in Saudi Arabia. You can easily switch between live timing and the live blog via the tabs. Below you will find our dedicated live blog and live timing hub; the times refresh automatically during the session, so you are always up to date.

Follow the live action as the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix gets going with Friday practice.

[Charles Leclerc](https://www.autosport.com/driver/charles-leclerc/840485/) goes into the Saudi race with a 10-place grid penalty due to taking his third set of control electronics for his Ferrari after his Bahrain retirement. Saudi Arabian GP first practice begins at 1:30pm GMT followed by second practice which starts at 5:00pm GMT. [Fernando Alonso](https://www.autosport.com/driver/fernando-alonso/829156/) finish on the podium in the opener.

Max Verstappen set the fastest time ahead of Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez.

[George Russell](/formula-1-drivers/george-russell) rounded out the top five. [Sergio Perez](/formula-1-drivers/sergio-perez). [To news overview](/f1-news)© Red Bull Content Pool

The third running of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will take place this weekend in Jeddah, but work is already underway on the country's second F1 circuit in ...

"So you're going to have two unique venues, different regions, I'm sure if you're going to do it, it's going to be two different... "There's a lot of things that we need to consider but I'm sure that the people in Saudi Arabia would be happy to have a race in Qiddiya and Jeddah, we can offer two races. Prince Khalid said the timing of F1's opening race next year means either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia will take the slot. "You have three races in the States because the market is big there and there is a demand. "The idea of having two races in Saudi is doable," Prince Khalid said. "We built this track [Jeddah] to last, so in theory, yes we can have two races.

Max Verstappen grabbed the fastest time in Formula 1's second practice session ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, beating Fernando Alonso by two tenths of a ...

[PrimePrimeFormula 1Bahrain GP ](/f1/news/how-aston-martin-and-alonso-can-save-f1-2023-from-red-bull-domination/10440926/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-ecclestones-new-f1-documentary-defies-expectations/10441815/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1Bahrain GP ](/f1/news/how-did-the-2023-f1-rookies-fare-in-bahrain/10441280/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-a-dynamic-design-tool-has-grown-in-f1-importance/10442017/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/why-mercedes-is-fronting-up-to-its-f1-mistakes-too-much/10443160/) [Nyck de Vries](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/nyck-de-vries/19622/), who was 17th quickest, was shown the black and white flag for crossing the white line on the entry to the pitlane - and late on endured a near miss through Turn 1 with Hamilton and had to take evasive action. [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/why-a-mercedes-u-turn-couldnt-deny-saubers-f1-debut-surprise/10443406/) [Esteban Ocon](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/esteban-ocon/19624/) was fourth fastest, quickest of those unable to transcend the 90-second barrier - his 1m30.039s just 0.03s clear of George Russell's effort for fifth. [Sergio Perez](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/sergio-perez/9328/) then intervened and posted a 1m30.428s to bring the pace down, but Verstappen's riposte was nearly 0.4s clear of his Red Bull team-mate. [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/testing-times-for-vasseur-but-the-true-challenge-at-ferrari-is-about-to-come/10444080/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1Saudi Arabian GP ](/f1/news/how-the-f1-driver-expression-saga-continues-to-have-a-lineker-like-problem/10443737/) [F1 Formula 1Saudi Arabian GP ](/f1/news/f1-saudi-arabian-gp-what-we-learned-friday-practice/10445037/)

Such grid penalties may be harsh, but they're F1's tool for enforcing the cost-saving part allotment rules. Here's how they work.

Back of the grid penalties are prioritized, so if a driver qualified 14th and had a 10-place penalty, for example, they would start ahead of a driver that had a back of the grid one. Once those who did not receive penalties are given their starting grid positions, the penalized portion of the grid is determined. Some of the penalties were “lessened” simply because there weren’t enough spots on the grid for everyone to be fully punished. When a new element is used, this becomes part of the driver’s “pool,” which means it can be interchanged race to race. - Penalties occurring at the same event are also cumulative: If you go over the limit for two different parts, you get both punishments. The penalty is for using more than his two allotted control electronics units for the season, after a pair of failures in Bahrain forced Ferrari to give his car its third.

That sentiment tallies with Russell, who on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Saudi Arabian GP commented that his win in Brazil in 2022 had led the team down a " ...

[PlusPlusFormula 1Saudi Arabian GP ](/f1/news/why-mercedes-is-fronting-up-to-its-f1-mistakes-too-much/10443144/) [PlusPlusFormula 1Saudi Arabian GP ](/f1/news/how-the-f1-driver-expression-saga-continues-to-have-a-lineker-like-problem/10443530/) [PlusPlusFormula 1Saudi Arabian GP ](/f1/news/testing-times-for-vasseur-but-the-true-challenge-at-ferrari-is-about-to-come/10443879/) He said: "We really tried hard to make it work because the data that we have extrapolated showed us that this works. We're, overall, not happy about the amount of downforce, the mechanical balance. It's quite an interesting process because we had the perfect storm last year.

F1's top bosses have made a rule change to how the drivers approach a specific aspect of the race weekend, but the move has not gone down well with Leclerc ...

A statement from FOM said: "To clarify and to avoid future misunderstanding, the use of any means of transport (bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, e-scooters, etc) is forbidden during the time window stated as 'Team Track Walks' on the Event Timetable. This decision has been agreed with the FIA." He said: "I did a walk around, and I think they've just issued a new thing where we cannot go around the track with bicycles anymore. This will be particularly time-consuming at the longer tracks – Spa-Francorchamps, home of the It has now been decided that, when they go on their usual track walk on a Thursday, they can no longer use bikes or scooters to speed up the process. Tweaks to the structure of a race weekend have become commonplace in recent times.

Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Russell said the get-together delivered an honest assessment of its situation, as the team worked out what steps ...

“That needs some analysis as well, because we did improve throughout last year: there's no two ways about it. Do we think we're on the right track with our philosophy? And we've already started working towards them, as of probably Tuesday last week. “Those decisions have already been made. What path do we want to be on? “We all came together and had some very good, honest, open conversations,” explained Russell.

Despite suffering from a stomach bug, reigning champion Max Verstappen was in imperious form after Friday's running ahead of the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand ...

But we tested what we wanted to test in the car. But although Red Bull is playing its cards close to its chest, and Verstappen suggested that a lower-degradation race relative to Bahrain could condense the pack, there are very clear signs that the team is primed for another strong result in Saudi Arabia. Mercedes should be in the mix too, depending on whether a switch to a higher-downforce set-up yields a stronger race car, but it may compromise the team in its qualifying ambitions. His run, like Alonso’s, was much less consistent relative to Perez – but the Scuderia helpfully seems to be in a similar ballpark to the Aston Martin and Mercedes squads. Thus, there are suggestions that there may be plenty of teams willing to explore a start on the medium compound. In that data, Mercedes showed a comparative lack of strength in the corners, owing to a decision to run at a lower downforce level. After a difficult Bahrain, Alpine offered glimpses of encouraging pace as it hopes to deliver on its ambition of challenging the Ferrari-Aston Martin-Mercedes trifecta. Alonso continued to look serene at the wheel of the AMR23, though, and it’s clearly a machine that fits him like a glove. He was a scant 0.014s up on his best lap from the daylight session, setting a 1m29.603s on a set of soft tyres, but remained relatively untroubled. Neither looked in danger of invoking the wrath of those in charge of monitoring track limits, such was their command of a compliant car. Red Bull crucially had more evidence to back up their early credentials, and the Milton Keynes squad demonstrated great pace on their longer-running simulations in the second half of FP2. Despite suffering from a stomach bug, reigning champion Max Verstappen was in imperious form after Friday's running ahead of the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was fastest in both FP1, held in daylight, and FP2, which was held in darkness and was closer to conditions for both qualifying and the race.

[PrimePrimeFormula 1Bahrain GP ](/f1/news/how-aston-martin-and-alonso-can-save-f1-2023-from-red-bull-domination/10440928/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-ecclestones-new-f1-documentary-defies-expectations/10441817/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1Bahrain GP ](/f1/news/how-did-the-2023-f1-rookies-fare-in-bahrain/10441282/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-a-dynamic-design-tool-has-grown-in-f1-importance/10442019/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/why-mercedes-is-fronting-up-to-its-f1-mistakes-too-much/10443162/) [Mercedes](https://www.motorsport.com/team/mercedes/5/)’ [George Russell](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/george-russell/21167/) was fifth fastest, with team-mate [Lewis Hamilton](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/lewis-hamilton/1278/) just fractionally slower but a tenth clear of [Carlos Sainz](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/carlos-sainz/15916/) in the fastest [Ferrari](https://www.motorsport.com/team/ferrari/3/). [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/why-a-mercedes-u-turn-couldnt-deny-saubers-f1-debut-surprise/10443408/) [Aston Martin](https://www.motorsport.com/team/aston-martin-racing/97/)’s [Fernando Alonso](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/fernando-alonso/489/) then took over at the top with 1m31.262s, before Perez responded with 1m30.592s, and Alonso went even faster with 1m30.509s, pipping him by 0.083s. [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/testing-times-for-vasseur-but-the-true-challenge-at-ferrari-is-about-to-come/10444082/) Under the floodlights, Verstappen, Alonso and Perez swapped the top spot between them early on, as the majority of teams evaluated the medium tyres. Verstappen could only manage third after his first run, over a second off the pace, but then vaulted to P1 on his second run on the same tyres with 1m30.494s, just 0.015s quicker. [PrimePrimeFormula 1Saudi Arabian GP ](/f1/news/how-the-f1-driver-expression-saga-continues-to-have-a-lineker-like-problem/10443739/)

Verstappen was fastest in both FP1, held in daylight, and FP2, which was held in darkness and was closer to conditions for both qualifying and the race.

[PrimePrimeFormula 1Bahrain GP ](/f1/news/how-aston-martin-and-alonso-can-save-f1-2023-from-red-bull-domination/10440926/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-ecclestones-new-f1-documentary-defies-expectations/10441815/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1Bahrain GP ](/f1/news/how-did-the-2023-f1-rookies-fare-in-bahrain/10441280/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/how-a-dynamic-design-tool-has-grown-in-f1-importance/10442017/) [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/why-mercedes-is-fronting-up-to-its-f1-mistakes-too-much/10443160/) [Mercedes](https://www.motorsport.com/team/mercedes/5/)’ [George Russell](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/george-russell/21167/) was fifth fastest, with team-mate [Lewis Hamilton](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/lewis-hamilton/1278/) just fractionally slower but a tenth clear of [Carlos Sainz](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/carlos-sainz/15916/) in the fastest [Ferrari](https://www.motorsport.com/team/ferrari/3/). [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/why-a-mercedes-u-turn-couldnt-deny-saubers-f1-debut-surprise/10443406/) [Aston Martin](https://www.motorsport.com/team/aston-martin-racing/97/)’s [Fernando Alonso](https://www.motorsport.com/driver/fernando-alonso/489/) then took over at the top with 1m31.262s, before Perez responded with 1m30.592s, and Alonso went even faster with 1m30.509s, pipping him by 0.083s. [PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/testing-times-for-vasseur-but-the-true-challenge-at-ferrari-is-about-to-come/10444080/) Under the floodlights, Verstappen, Alonso and Perez swapped the top spot between them early on, as the majority of teams evaluated the medium tyres. [PrimePrimeFormula 1Saudi Arabian GP ](/f1/news/how-the-f1-driver-expression-saga-continues-to-have-a-lineker-like-problem/10443737/) Verstappen could only manage third after his first run, over a second off the pace, but then vaulted to P1 on his second run on the same tyres with 1m30.494s, just 0.015s quicker.

'Big changes': Hamilton turns up heat on Mercedes as Piastri's grim reality sets in — F1 Practice Wrap.

“Yes, copy,” retorted his pit wall, seemingly sensitive to the team’s need for a changed approach as they seek to reverse their slump. His Aston Martin appeared to be the only car capable of fighting with them. Verstappen with 1:29.952 ahead of Perez until Alonso, on softs, split them again. “We need to make some big changes,” said Russell in a stern voice. The close dicing at the front continued with the Red Bulls narrowly ahead of Alonso and then a gap of two-tenths to the pack led, after half an hour, by Hulkenberg and Gasly. Piastri had a close call when he had to take evasive action after nearly colliding with the rear of Sainz. The top three were separated by 0.012 before Verstappen, again, lifted the bar in 1:29.603 after switching to softs for a brief simulation of what may lie ahead in Saturday’s qualifying session. After Verstappen’s early supremacy in a Red Bull one-two in opening practice the second session began in cooler conditions, the air temperature descending to 25 degrees and the track from 44 to 31. Sergio Perez was third in the second Red Bull ahead of Esteban Ocon of Alpine, George Russell of Mercedes and Pierre Gasly in the second Alpine. Alonso’s performance confirmed his speed this year after a strong showing to finish third in the season-opening race in Bahrain, but it was Verstappen who set the pace with some ease. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was 11th for Mercedes, with a best lap of 1:30.599, a second slower than Verstappen, on the day he announced he was no longer working with his long-serving performance coach Angela Cullen. Max Verstappen showed no ill effects from a stomach bug on Friday as he topped the times for Red Bull ahead of Fernando Alonso in Friday’s second free practice at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Cullen, a former player for the national hockey team in her native New Zealand, had been Hamilton's dedicated performance coach since 2016 as part of her ...

It's been such an honour and pleasure to stand alongside you I'm so proud of you and everything you have achieved. "Today I'm excited to share I'm off on my next adventure. "I am a stronger athlete and a better person because of her.

Sir Lewis Hamilton is enduring a difficult time in F1 as Mercedes struggle with their car, and now the seven-time world champion has been dealt another ...

And the star has since taken a swipe at [Toto Wolff](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/toto-wolff) and co, claiming [the team "didn't listen" to him over his concerns about the W14 designs](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-f1-news-29409409). And the split couldn't have come at a worse time for the 38-year-old, as fears grow over his F1 future. Thank you for everything Ang, I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you." The 48-year-old, who lives in France, has since helped oversee six of Hamilton's Championship victories. Hamilton is currently in Saudi Arabia for the second Grand Prix race of the season, having struggled to fifth place in Bahrain earlier this month. "I am a stronger athlete and a better person because of her. [Max Verstappen](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/max-verstappen) and [Sergio Perez](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/sergio-perez) who dominated, with Hamilton down in sixth place. [Lewis Hamilton hits out at Mercedes and says they 'didn't listen' to him about 2023 car](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-f1-news-29409409) [Lewis Hamilton's frustration at Mercedes team shines through during radio message](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-radio-message-29374015) [F1 finally allow Lewis Hamilton to wear nose stud - and excuse is like 'note to school'](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/f1-lewis-hamilton-nose-stud-29371934) [Ex-F1 star who Lewis Hamilton passed to win title looks totally different 15 years on](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/f1-lewis-hamilton-timo-glock-29364635) [Bernie Ecclestone says Lewis Hamilton 'robbed' rival of title and makes Schumacher claim](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/f1-ecclestone-schumacher-hamilton-massa-29360716) [Mercedes](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/mercedes) man is still seeking a record-breaking eighth world title, but it's unlikely to come in 2023 with the Silver Arrows notably off the pace in comparison to [Red Bull](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/red-bull-racing). [comments section below](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/f1-ecclestone-schumacher-hamilton-massa-29360716#comments-wrapper). ['Desperate' Lewis Hamilton 'would leave Mercedes for Ferrari' to become world champion](http://'Desperate' Lewis Hamilton 'would leave Mercedes for Ferrari' to become world champion) [F1](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/), but now he's lost the services of a figure whose been pivotal to his previous success.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen topped both practice sessions on Friday, leading Alpine's Fernando Alonso by two tenths of a second in FP2.

[PrimePrimeFormula 1 ](/f1/news/testing-times-for-vasseur-but-the-true-challenge-at-ferrari-is-about-to-come/10444080/) Viewers from selected countries can subscribe to F1 TV to stream qualifying on a device of their choice. Here's how and when you can watch qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday.