Formula 1 teams and drivers will face a new challenge in Saudi Arabia this week. Jeddah is the second-longest track on the calendar – and the fastest of all street circuits. Charles Leclerc topped the first free practice session, followed by Max Verstappen. However, according to a few people in the Jeddah circuit, there has been a ring of smoke seen in the air during the FP1 session.

F1 journalist Chris Medland was one of the few who revealed that there is a lot of black smoke spotted in the circuit. He tweeted about the incident and conveyed that smoke can be seen rising above the city. His tweet read, “A few minutes left of practice but it’s off-track where things appear to be happening, with videos circulating on social media of another attack on the Aramco facility nearby and a big fire breaking out. Lots of black smoke in the sky near the circuit.”

He has also claimed that the air traffic in Jeddah is disturbed as a result of the smoke. Many in and around the circuit are sharing videos and pictures of the incident.

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Formula 1 is yet to confirm what caused the fire and revealed they are waiting for further information.

Earlier, there were reports that suggested there were also attacks on an Aramco distribution plant in Jeddah a few days back.

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen finish FP1 on a high

Meanwhile, on the track Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has topped the charts in FP1. The Monegasque driver is continuing from where he left off in Bahrain. Leclerc’s Ferrari looks strong and will be hopeful of a race victory again. The Jeddah Corniche circuit, however, possesses a different challenge to the one from Bahrain, as it is a street circuit.

Valtteri Bottas surprisingly finished third on the timesheet with Carlos Sainz behind him. The Ferrari-powered engines are once again thriving early in the 2022 season. However, Kevin Magnussen struggled to capitalize on his strong start to the season. He failed to set a time amid mechanical issues in his car. At the same time, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished P9 and P15 respectively and will look to improve in FP2.

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Charles Leclerc and Ferrari will hope to build on their momentum as they look to provide a strong challenge to Red Bull and Mercedes. Can Leclerc and co take home the plaudits in Jeddah? It remains to be seen.