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F1 Qatar GP: Leclerc fastest over Norris and Piastri in only practice session

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; Charles Leclerc ended the running on the harder two compounds of tyres with a 1m23.419s, although was gazumped 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.

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.

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38 (Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images)

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

   
1
 - 
4
   
   
1
 - 
2
   
Cla Driver # Chassis Engine Laps Time Interval km/h
1 Monaco C. Leclerc Ferrari 16 Ferrari Ferrari 30

1'21.953

  238.043
2 United Kingdom L. Norris McLaren 4 McLaren Mercedes 24

+0.425

1'22.378

0.425 236.815
3 Australia O. Piastri McLaren 81 McLaren Mercedes 26

+0.472

1'22.425

0.047 236.680
4 Spain C. Sainz Ferrari 55 Ferrari Ferrari 30

+0.582

1'22.535

0.110 236.365
5 Japan Y. Tsunoda RB 22 RB Red Bull 27

+1.092

1'23.045

0.510 234.913
6 Finland V. Bottas Sauber 77 Sauber Ferrari 29

+1.111

1'23.064

0.019 234.859
7 Canada L. Stroll Aston Martin Racing 18 Aston Martin Mercedes 24

+1.146

1'23.099

0.035 234.760
8 United Kingdom G. Russell Mercedes 63 Mercedes Mercedes 27

+1.207

1'23.160

0.061 234.588
9 Thailand A. Albon Williams 23 Williams Mercedes 29

+1.208

1'23.161

0.001 234.585
10 United Kingdom L. Hamilton Mercedes 44 Mercedes Mercedes 26

+1.235

1'23.188

0.027 234.509
11 Netherlands M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1 Red Bull Red Bull 26

+1.260

1'23.213

0.025 234.439
12 Spain F. Alonso Aston Martin Racing 14 Aston Martin Mercedes 24

+1.274

1'23.227

0.014 234.399
13 Germany N. Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team 27 Haas Ferrari 27

+1.292

1'23.245

0.018 234.349
14 New Zealand L. Lawson RB 30 RB Red Bull 29

+1.609

1'23.562

0.317 233.460
15 France P. Gasly Alpine 10 Alpine Renault 28

+1.667

1'23.620

0.058 233.298
16 Denmark K. Magnussen Haas F1 Team 20 Haas Ferrari 27

+1.762

1'23.715

0.095 233.033
17 China Z. Guanyu Sauber 24 Sauber Ferrari 27

+1.927

1'23.880

0.165 232.575
18 Mexico S. Perez Red Bull Racing 11 Red Bull Red Bull 26

+2.086

1'24.039

0.159 232.135
19 Argentina F. Colapinto Williams 43 Williams Mercedes 29

+2.247

1'24.200

0.161 231.691
20 France E. Ocon Alpine 31 Alpine Renault 21

+2.327

1'24.280

0.080 231.471
In this article
Jake Boxall-Legge
Formula 1
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