PRACTICE: Weug sets the early pace in Jeddah ahead of Palmowski

Maya Weug got Round 2 off to a strong start as the Ferrari driver snatched the fastest time in Practice away from Alisha Palmowski with a last-gasp effort as the chequered flag was flown.

It was nip-and-tuck at the top of the timing sheets, with the leading duo separated by 0.030s followed by Standings leader Doriane Pin in third.

With 40 minutes to get reacquainted with both the low-grip Jeddah Corniche Circuit and the scorching temperatures, the field headed out for their installation laps. It would take 10 minutes before Nicole Havrda got the first time of the day on the board with a 2:11.374.

Pin would immediately lower the early benchmark to a 2:07.687 before moving into the 2:06s. Weug was next to go quickest on a 2:06.286 and then clocked in an improved time to put a six tenths buffer between herself and Pin, with Lia Block a further two tenths back in third.

The Dutch racer extended her margin further on a 2:05.616, as Chloe Chambers slotted into second momentarily. Pin moved in front of the Red Bull Ford driver but sat over half a second down on Weug.

READ MORE: JEDDAH PREVIEW: Talking points ahead of Round 2

Palmowski was the next driver to move into second, reducing the gap out front to four tenths. Exploring the limits, Farah AlYousef brought out the Yellow Flag with 15 minutes remaining after the Wild Card driver spun on to the run-off into the final corner.

Attempting to cut the deficit to Weug, Palmowski posted two purple sectors to join her inside the 2:05s. Chambers then narrowly missed out on demoting the Ferrari driver by 0.009s.

Into the final three minutes, Pin seized the P1 spot on a 2:05.610, pipping Weug by 0.006s. However, the times weren’t done falling yet as Weug restored herself to the top of the order moments before the chequered flag came out.

A last-second improvement to 2:05.387 from Palmowski seemed to get the job done by 0.052s, but Weug had one final push remaining to regain the fastest lap of the session with a 2:05.357.

Palmowski and Pin completed the top three ahead of Chambers. Block followed in fifth with Ella Lloyd in sixth and Aurelia Nobels in seventh. Tina Hausmann finished in eighth with the two Rodin Motorsport cars of Chloe Chong and Emma Felbermayr rounding out the top-10.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The floodlights will be beaming when the field get back on track for their late night Qualifying session at 21:30 local time (UTC+3).