Motor racing-Leclerc leads practice as Houthi attacks overshadow Saudi GP

FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabia Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - March 25, 2022 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc during a press conference REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

JEDDAH (Reuters) -Ferrari's Charles Leclerc ended the opening day of practice leading from Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen as the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix schedule went ahead despite attacks by Yemen's Houthis on a facility owned by Aramco near the track.

The Monegasque driver, who was also fastest in the opening session of practice, during which a huge plume of black smoke rose over the Red Sea city, lapped the 6.1km Jeddah Corniche track in one minute 30.074 seconds under the floodlights.