The 2025 Formula 1 season roared back into action with the first Free Practice session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. Under the intense Arabian sun and surrounded by the high-speed drama of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, drivers and teams began gathering crucial data for what promises to be one of the most strategically demanding weekends on the calendar.
Electric Start to FP1 in Jeddah: Verstappen Leads with Authority
Max Verstappen wasted no time in asserting his dominance in the early stages of FP1. The Red Bull driver topped the timesheets with a blistering lap of 1:28.174, setting the pace and laying down a psychological marker to the rest of the grid. The RB21 looked sharp through the high-speed corners, particularly in Sector 1, where Verstappen carved out significant time thanks to Red Bull’s low-drag setup.
His teammate Sergio Perez slotted into fourth, showcasing consistency but falling short of Verstappen’s raw pace. The session highlighted the stability and balance of the Red Bull under braking, an asset that will prove invaluable across Jeddah’s high-risk layout.
Mercedes Finds Momentum: Russell and Hamilton Deliver Strong Starts
Mercedes arrived in Jeddah with a raft of aero updates, and the early returns were positive. George Russell impressed with a P2 finish, just 0.183 seconds behind Verstappen. The W15 featured a new floor and rear wing combination that improved high-speed cornering, particularly through Turns 13 to 16.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, looked composed and confident, logging the third-fastest time. Despite traffic during his qualifying sim runs, Hamilton’s telemetry revealed strong long-run consistency and excellent tire degradation management—a critical factor in Jeddah’s demanding surface and tire-eating heat.
Ferrari’s Setup Struggles: Leclerc and Sainz Search for Balance
While Ferrari came into the weekend hoping to challenge Red Bull’s supremacy, FP1 exposed a lack of rear-end stability in the SF-25. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz ended the session P6 and P7 respectively, with both drivers battling understeer mid-corner and oversteer at exit.
Leclerc’s feedback to the pit wall pointed to issues with traction on medium-speed exits, especially in the final sector. Ferrari engineers are expected to adjust the ride height and tweak the differential settings to bring more consistency for the later sessions.
Aston Martin and McLaren Show Midfield Promise
Fernando Alonso continued to extract every ounce of performance from the Aston Martin AMR25, finishing fifth and just three-tenths off Verstappen’s time. The Spaniard’s car appeared stable across the kerbs and was particularly strong under braking into Turn 27.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris showed flashes of potential, clocking in at P8 and P10 respectively. McLaren’s top speed, however, remains an issue, especially on Jeddah’s long straights. The team is likely to adjust the DRS configuration before qualifying.
Alpine and Stake F1 Falter in Initial Runs
Alpine’s woes continued with both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly languishing outside the top ten. The A525 struggled with corner entry and lacked the aerodynamic efficiency seen in top contenders. Similarly, the rebranded Stake F1 Team experienced a disjointed session with Valtteri Bottas complaining of brake locking and understeer throughout Sector 2.
Rookie Watch: Antonelli Impresses in First FP1 Run
Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes junior driver, took part in his first FP1 outing replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams. The young Italian delivered a composed and technically sound performance, finishing P14, ahead of seasoned names like Daniel Ricciardo and Kevin Magnussen. Antonelli’s feedback was noted as mature and precise, with Mercedes engineers praising his throttle modulation and rapid adaptability.
Red Flags and Track Incidents: Minor Disruptions in FP1
A brief red flag was triggered mid-session when Zhou Guanyu brushed the barriers at Turn 22, damaging the front wing of his Stake F1 machine. The Chinese driver was able to limp back to the pits, but lost significant running time. Additionally, Nico Hülkenberg suffered a lock-up into Turn 1, flat-spotting his hard compound tires and compromising his long run data collection.
Track Evolution and Tire Strategy Insights
With temperatures rising steadily throughout the session, track evolution played a pivotal role in the latter half of FP1. Pirelli’s medium compound proved to be the optimal choice for balance between grip and degradation. However, initial data indicates that tire blistering may become an issue during the race, especially on the rear-left due to the relentless high-speed corners.
Teams are expected to focus on long-run simulations during FP2 to finalize race strategy. With Jeddah’s unique layout—featuring 27 corners and close walls—the balance between top speed and downforce remains a key setup challenge.
Final Classification – FP1 Standings
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:28.174 | — | 25 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:28.357 | +0.183 | 24 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:28.511 | +0.337 | 24 |
| 4 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing | 1:28.614 | +0.440 | 26 |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:28.731 | +0.557 | 23 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:28.890 | +0.716 | 25 |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:28.901 | +0.727 | 26 |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:28.957 | +0.783 | 24 |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | 1:29.014 | +0.840 | 24 |
| 10 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:29.039 | +0.865 | 24 |
What to Expect in FP2 and Beyond
With teams now armed with extensive FP1 data, FP2 will see a shift toward long-run pace evaluation and race simulation strategies. The second practice session under twilight conditions will better replicate race-day conditions, providing critical insight into tire management and car performance across full fuel loads.
All eyes will be on Red Bull to see if their early advantage holds, while Mercedes will aim to continue their resurgence. Ferrari needs to react swiftly to stay within touching distance, and midfield teams like Aston Martin and McLaren will be searching for every tenth as qualifying nears.
Stay tuned for comprehensive updates, lap-by-lap coverage, and deep-dive analysis as the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend unfolds under the lights of Jeddah.
