Key Highlights
- Oscar Piastri took the top spot in the only practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix.
- Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso finished second and third respectively.
- The Sprint is making its final appearance of the season, giving drivers just one hour to prepare.
- McLaren struggled on hard tyres but ended up with top two positions.
The Sole Practice Session in Qatar
The first practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix was a crucial moment of preparation for the Formula 1 drivers. The Lusail International Circuit welcomed the McLaren duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as well as other top contenders like Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin. The practice session, which lasted just one hour, was part of the Sprint Qualifying event that made its final appearance in Qatar.
Top Performers in FP1
Oscar Piastri emerged as the pace-setter late in the session, securing the top spot with a time of 1:20.924. His teammate Lando Norris followed closely behind, just 58 milliseconds slower. Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin completed the top three positions.
Challenges Faced by McLaren
The McLaren team faced some challenges during the session. Both drivers struggled significantly on hard tyres for much of the practice period. However, as the session progressed, they managed to improve their lap times and ended up securing the top two spots overall. Isack Hadjar from Aston Martin finished fourth, while Carlos Sainz was fifth.
Struggles and Improvements
The majority of drivers were keen to accumulate as many laps as possible to test their setups in the challenging conditions. Lando Norris, who found himself at the bottom of both lap count and time, made several adjustments in the garage before attempting a faster lap. However, his first attempt resulted in him finishing 20th.
By the halfway point, most teams had called their drivers back to the pits for strategic changes.
George Russell from Mercedes found himself at the top of the standings initially but was eventually overtaken by Kimi Antonelli and others. The track conditions remained tricky with breezy winds affecting performance significantly.
Final Standings
Oscar Piastri’s final lap time of 1:20.294 secured him in first place, just 58 milliseconds ahead of Lando Norris. Fernando Alonso took the third position for Aston Martin, while Carlos Sainz and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top five.
Implications for Sprint Qualifying
The practice session results will be crucial as teams now have a limited amount of time to refine their setups before the drivers return to the track at 20:30 local time for Sprint Qualifying. This event is essential in determining grid positions, with the top ten drivers from both FP1 and FP2 combined deciding who starts where on Sunday.
With just one hour left for final preparations, the pressure is high as teams work diligently to ensure their cars are at their best for the upcoming qualifying session. The next few hours will be decisive in shaping the outcome of the Qatar Grand Prix.
