F1 Results Today: McLaren BEATEN in Saudi as Max Verstappen's Red Bull struggles continue

Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Netherlands, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Practice

F1 Results Today: McLaren BEATEN in Saudi as Max Verstappen's Red Bull struggles continue

All the times from practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Originally written by Sheona Mountford. This version is a translation.

Friday 18 April 2025 16:52

McLaren have been beaten by a shock rival in first practice at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen's Red Bull struggles also continuing in Jeddah.

Whilst McLaren ended the session with Lando Norris in P2 and last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix winner Oscar Piastri in fourth, split by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, it was Alpine's Pierre Gasly who topped the timings in FP1.

For results from FP2 in Bahrain, please see here.

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Gasly set a lap time of 1:29:239 around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, edging Norris by just 0.007 of a second as he backs up his strong showing in Bahrain last time out.

Elsewhere, as mentioned, reigning world champion Verstappen continued to struggle with instability in his RB21, only able to set a time quick enough for P9 in the session, with Lewis Hamilton one place ahead in P8 and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda one place behind in P10.

F1 FP1 Results: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025

Position	Driver	Team	Time
1	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:29.239
2	Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.007
3	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.070
4	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+0.102
5	Alex Albon	Williams	+0.367
6	George Russell	Mercedes	+0.379
7	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+0.540
8	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+0.576
9	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.579
10	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull	+0.582
11	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+0.668
12	Nico Hulkenberg	Kick Sauber	+0.677
13	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.695
14	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+0.737
15	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	+0.772
16	Jack Doohan	Alpine	+0.944
17	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+1.344
18	Ollie Bearman	Haas	+1.356
19	Esteban Ocon	Haas	+1.790
20	Gabriel Bortoleto	Kick Sauber	+1.799

Who is the current F1 world champion?

Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, won his fourth drivers' championship last year.

Is there F1 today?

Yes, FP2 will take place after FP1 on Friday, April 18, at 8pm (local time) and 6pm (BST). To read the complete breakdown of practice times and how to watch in your location click here.