Practice report
Formula 1 Qatar GP
F1 Qatar GP: Leclerc beats Norris and Piastri to top only practice session
Leclerc was the only driver to dip under the 1m22s bracket
Jake Boxall-Legge
Edited: Nov 29, 2024, 3:27 PM
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Charles Leclerc led the way in Formula 1's sole Qatar Grand Prix practice session to lead both McLarens at the top of the order.
The Monegasque posted a 1m21.953s to sit 0.425s clear of Lando Norris' best lap, as the Briton nudged ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri on the final timing screens.
The opening 45 minutes of the session were largely dedicated to running on the medium tyre in preparation for the sprint qualifying and race sessions, while also cleaning up a dusty circuit, before grand prix qualifying preparation on the soft tyres concluded the hour.
Yet it was the two Ferraris, running on the hard tyre, who cycled towards the top of the timing order; Leclerc ended the running on the harder two compounds of tyres with a 1m23.419s, although was eclipsed by team-mate Carlos Sainz's 1m23.068s.
The flurry of soft-tyre runs concluded the session, with the top-end times opened by Sainz's 1m22.982s, although Leclerc found a 1m22.242s to firmly put this in the shade.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
The McLarens got close, as Piastri was under two tenths slower, although Norris found half a tenth on his team-mate to slot into second place.
Leclerc improved by three tenths on his second tilt at a lap on the softs, although the McLarens were unable to get a second run going in an effort to get closer.
Sainz was fourth, with Yuki Tsunoda fifth as he was just over a second behind Leclerc's ultimate lap. With a late effort, Valtteri Bottas set the best middle sector en route to sixth - the Sauber driver hoping to continue that into the rest of the weekend to ensure he does not end the year scoreless.
This was 0.03s clear of Lance Stroll in seventh, who got ahead of George Russell, Alex Albon, and Lewis Hamilton.
Recently minted four-time champion Max Verstappen was only 11th fastest ahead of Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, and Liam Lawson, as the Dutchman brushed the gravel at Turn 15 on his final flyer.
Pierre Gasly was granted Alpine's sole construction of its new nosecone and front wing, with a shorter nose tip to detach the central part of the wing's mainplane. Although the Frenchman spent the earlier runs among the front-runners, he slipped down the order during the soft-tyre runs.
F1 Qatar GP - FP1 results
Main Information Additional Data Driver Info Driver Info
1
-
4
Main Information Additional Data
1
-
2
Cla Driver # Chassis Engine Laps Time Interval km/h 1 C. Leclerc Ferrari 16
Ferrari Ferrari 30
1'21.953
238.043 2 L. Norris McLaren 4
McLaren Mercedes 24
+0.425
1'22.378
0.425 236.815 3 O. Piastri McLaren 81
McLaren Mercedes 26
+0.472
1'22.425
0.047 236.680 4 C. Sainz Ferrari 55
Ferrari Ferrari 30
+0.582
1'22.535
0.110 236.365 5 Y. Tsunoda RB 22
RB Red Bull 27
+1.092
1'23.045
0.510 234.913 6 V. Bottas Sauber 77
Sauber Ferrari 29
+1.111
1'23.064
0.019 234.859 7 L. Stroll Aston Martin Racing 18
Aston Martin Mercedes 24
+1.146
1'23.099
0.035 234.760 8 G. Russell Mercedes 63
Mercedes Mercedes 27
+1.207
1'23.160
0.061 234.588 9 A. Albon Williams 23
Williams Mercedes 29
+1.208
1'23.161
0.001 234.585 10 L. Hamilton Mercedes 44
Mercedes Mercedes 26
+1.235
1'23.188
0.027 234.509 11 M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1
Red Bull Red Bull 26
+1.260
1'23.213
0.025 234.439 12 F. Alonso Aston Martin Racing 14
Aston Martin Mercedes 24
+1.274
1'23.227
0.014 234.399 13 N. Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team 27
Haas Ferrari 27
+1.292
1'23.245
0.018 234.349 14 L. Lawson RB 30
RB Red Bull 29
+1.609
1'23.562
0.317 233.460 15 P. Gasly Alpine 10
Alpine Renault 28
+1.667
1'23.620
0.058 233.298 16 K. Magnussen Haas F1 Team 20
Haas Ferrari 27
+1.762
1'23.715
0.095 233.033 17 Z. Guanyu Sauber 24
Sauber Ferrari 27
+1.927
1'23.880
0.165 232.575 18 S. Perez Red Bull Racing 11
Red Bull Red Bull 26
+2.086
1'24.039
0.159 232.135 19 F. Colapinto Williams 43
Williams Mercedes 29
+2.247
1'24.200
0.161 231.691 20 E. Ocon Alpine 31
Alpine Renault 21
+2.327
1'24.280
0.080 231.471 View full results
Photos from Qatar GP Practice
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Friday
Formula 1
31
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