F1 Qatar GP: Leclerc beats Norris and Piastri to top…

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

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
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