The second free practice session for the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was all about concern for the safety of members of the Formula 1 circuit. In view of the worrying images of a drone attack on a facility owned by Formula 1 sponsor Aramco near the race track, the sporting events became a minor matter.
Charles Leclerc secured the best time, just like in the first practice session, which was still under floodlights. The Ferrari driver kissed the wall because he gave in too early (“My car broke”); but was faster than everyone else in 1:30.074 minutes.
Second went to Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 0.140 seconds back, followed by Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Sergio Pérez (Red Bull). Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (both Mercedes) were around half a second behind in P5 and P6.
Nico Hulkenberg, who again replaces Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin this weekend, ultimately finished 16th, a second and a half back.
The best German was Mick Schumacher on P13. The Haas driver was 1.095 seconds short of Leclerc’s best time.
Haas worried again
Kevin Magnussen, who had only completed two laps in the first Friday practice session due to a hydraulic leak, had to end the second session prematurely as well. Cause: “Something on the engine. We don’t know what yet,” reports team boss Günther Steiner in an interview with “ServusTV”. “The engine people said it should shut down immediately.”
“We don’t know yet whether it had anything to do with driving over this curb,” he says. Magnussen’s preparation was anything but ideal, especially since he didn’t know the route from last year. But Steiner puts that into perspective: “Tomorrow is another day. I think we’re okay again.”