Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but the difference to Max Verstappen is only 0.056 seconds. Both drivers drove on the soft tyre.
For a long time, it looked like Verstappen wasn't going to improve his time on the hard tyre, but in the final seconds of the session, the Dutchman came back with a fast time. As a result, Valtteri Bottas finished third. Sergio Perez has not yet found the right pace and has to make do with eleventh place.
Midfield
Pierre Gasly drove excellent times throughout the session and eventually finished fourth. Both Ferrari's finished on P6 and P7 ahead of their rivals from McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris. Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel completed the top ten during FP1.