Alonso takes the top spot in FP2, Russell and Verstappen finish P2 and P3
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Fernando Alonso highlighted the pace showed in FP1 as he topped the time sheets in FP2 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Spaniard rounded off a fine day in P1, beating out Geirge Russell in the Mercedes by two-tenths, and also Max Verstappen, who could only manage P3.
Drain cover issues delay the start of FP2
Once again, there were problems with drain covers on the track, this time in the pitlane. As a result, the start of the session was delayed by ten minutes while checks were happening for loose bolts holding down the pitlane drain covers.
It was another busy start once FP1 finally got underway, with all 20 cars going onto the street circuit of Jeddah within the first five minutes.
The medium tyres were the tyre of choice for many drivers, and it was Verstappen and his RB20 setting the early pace, carrying on from where he left off in FP1.
Alonso also did the same, as he was right behind Verstappen in his Aston Martin, showing some very promising pace in the warm and windy conditions in the Saudi Arabian night.
There were some troubles with traffic throughout the session, with Lewis Hamilton and Logan Sargeant almost colliding on track. As a result, the stewards investigated Hamilton after the session for impeding.
Soft tyres used just like in FP2
The halfway stage in FP2, just like FP1, was the changing point for teams and drivers to change onto the red-walled soft tyres to test their one-lap pace.
With those tyres, Alonso found the extra pace to take him to the top of the standings with around 25 minutes left, and no one could better him, showing that the Aston Martin has some genuine pace around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Along with Aston Martin, Mercedes continued to show promising speed, with Russell sitting just two-tenths behind Alonso with the softs bolted onto his car.
It was not the total dominance we usually see from Red Bull, with Verstappen finishing in P3, while Sergio Perez could only muster a P5 finish.
Ferrari could only finish in P4 and P7 with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, while McLaren were even further behind with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in P10 and P14, respectively.
Alonso's Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll finished in P6 when the chequered flag dropped, rounding off a great session for Aston Martin. Hamilton, Pierre Gasly and Piastri rounded out the top ten.