JEDDAH — Briton Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes team set the pace in both the practice sessions of the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 that took place on Friday evening at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 is being staged within the "Quality of Life" Program and is scheduled to be held on Sunday.

In the first trials, Hamilton was followed in by Dutchman Max Verstappen of Red Bull team in second place and the Finnish Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes team in third place.

4- Pierre Gasly –

Team Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly came in fourth followed by Antonio Giovinazzi of Alfa Romeo Team with Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc coming in next.

In the second practice session, Hamilton set the fastest time of 1:29.018, 0.061 seconds ahead of his Mercedes teammate Bottas, who finished second, after finishing third in the first test, while French Gasly, driver of the Alpha Tauri team, took third place.

Verstappen came in next with Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon of the Alpine team pushed Sainz of Ferrari to seventh spot. Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda took eighth with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez taking ninth spot.

Competitions of Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 will intensify Saturday with the final qualifying, after the end of the free practice for drivers.

Briton Mercedes driver Hamilton and the Dutchman Verstappen, who are looking to secure the first place Sunday, which could determine the race champion.

The two qualifying tests Saturday will determine the final grid of the race, in which the drivers will be classified according to the fastest time. — SPA