This session has finished. No further updates will be posted.
That’s practice done with, it’s qualifying next. Here’s the report on the final hour of running.
The chequered flag falls and it’s a McLaren one-two, Russell over six tenths of a second behind in third. Report coming up shortly.
Verstappen puts up a late improvement to go fourth, eight tenths of a second off Norris.
Hamilton has been struggling in the first chicane, he improved in the first sector on this lap, and at the final sector, but he only makes it up to 12th, four tenths of a second off Leclerc.
Norris pinches the top time from Piastri by two hundredths of a second.
Hamilton did a personal best middle sector than understeered wide in the final corner and pitted.
Leclerc produces three personal best sectors to go fourth in the Ferrari, eight tenths of a second off Piastri. Hamilton is languishing down in 12th.
Verstappen reports “weird engine braking” again.
A fine lap by Alexander Albon has put him fourth for now. Verstappen goes fifth behind that and it’s hard to believe there’s not a fair chunk more in the Red Bull.
It’s a 1’27.513 for Piastri which is seven tenths of a second quicker than Russell. Norris goes second and, just as before, is 0.158s off Piastri.
Russell goes quickest with a 1’28.214 but Piastri looks set to post a huge improvement.
With 20 minutes left Russell heads out for a run, Mercedes haven’t looked as competitive as in recent races so far in Saudi Arabia.
Carlos Sainz Jnr has looked more comfortably in the Williams lately and puts up a time quick enough for fifth ahead of both Mercedes plus Tsunoda and Hamilton.
Tsunoda did post an improvement and is now just three tenths of a second off Verstappen.
Both Ferrari drivers have taken new power units today.
Verstappen produces the quickest time of anyone in the middle sector as he goes second behind the McLaren drivers.
Drivers overwhelmingly favouring the soft tyres so far in this session which suggests they don’t expect to need them in the grand prix.
Yuki Tsunoda only 17th after his first run, he went very wide at the final corner so had absolutely no danger of hitting the barrier on the inside as he did yesterday.
Norris does the fastest first sector time and goes second, 0.158s off his team mate.
Piastri takes over at the top with a 1’28.605 and now leads by 0.255s from Leclerc.
Charles Leclerc improves to a 1’28.860 putting him 0.217s ahead of Verstappen.
Hamilton improves to a 1’29.188. Alonso grabs a slipstream from the Ferrari to begin a lap.
Verstappen looks fully committed on that lap and he goes fastest of all through the first two sectors to go top with a 1’29.077, just four hundredths of a second up on the McLarens.
Max Verstappen, who was not far off the McLarens yesterday, begins a lap now.
Norris can’t beat Piastri with that lap but there’s less than a tenth of a second in it. Bearman goes third, three tenths off.
Oscar Piastri lowers the best time to a 1’29.118 putting him 0.548s ahead of Doohan.
Charles Leclerc slots into third, then Doohan goes top with a 1’29.666.
Hamilton does the fastest first sector time at 32.984, Leclerc one tenth off that as he begins a lap behind him. Hamilton only ends up second to Bearman though with a 1’30.367.
Bearman set the fastest time with a 1’30.252. “The front axle is way stronger than yesterday,” he reports. “That’s a good thing.”
Less than 10 minutes into the session Lewis Hamilton has already joined the track. He’s not looked particularly comfortable in his Ferrari so far this weekend.
Doohan will be investigated after the session for failing to follow the race director’s instructions.
Jack Doohan, who hasn’t been able to match the strong lap times of his team mate Pierre Gasly this weekend (possibly related to the fact Gasly has a fresh Renault engine) is also on-track early and sets the early pace with a 1’30.613 on softs.
The final practice session is go at Jeddah and unsurprisingly Gabriel Bortoleto immediately hits the track, having lost so much running yesterday due to the fuel leak which kept him out of the second session.
Third practice for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is coming up next.