FP1 Highlights | 2024 Qatar Grand Prix

Qatar will host the final sprint weekend of the season, so teams just had a single practice session to hone their cars around the La Salle circuit before qualifying begins for tomorrow's short-form race. And it was the two teams fighting for the Constructors' Championship who occupied the top four spots, Ferrari and McLaren. Charles Leclerc nabbed the best time of the session, clocked at 1 minute 21,953. Sergio Perez had a moment at Turn 15, the Mexican driver going off-piste and releasing a huge cloud of dust from the run-off as he struggled to keep his Red Bull out of trouble. Franco Colopinto was another spraying sand into the air. He's Williams-wide at Turn 4, as was Lando Norris' McLaren at the same tricky spot. Both papaya cars found the going a bit difficult, Oscar Piastri too rapid through 15 and Norris fighting for control through the apex of 10. And it was unlucky 30 for Pierre Gasly. The Salle is a high downforce circuit and the track evolution is high throughout a session as the dust is dispersed and the rubber laid down. It can also be a crowded place with 16 corners to navigate. George Russell, fresh from his third career victory last time out, is sporting a white helmet and matching overalls this weekend. The other winner in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen, wearing a new gold lid adorned with four stars to celebrate his fourth consecutive World Championship title. However, he needed a bit of running in. I have a lot of air coming into my helmet, so I need to change helmet after this run. Understood. Valtteri Bottas jumped up to P6 in the session with a late run on the softs. The Kicksalber drivers have just two races plus a sprint to get the Swiss team off the mark. They're currently 17 points adrift of Williams in P9, so avoiding the wooden spoon seems a big ask. Both Bottas and Joguaini finished in the top 10 here last season, which was the last time either driver was in the points. So, is sprint qualifying next on the agenda? It was Leclerc top from the two McLarens. Norris won better than Piastri. Then came Carlos Sainz, half a second ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in P5. Then Bottas, Stroll, Russell, Albon and Hamilton complete the top 10. Two champions occupy the first spots on P2. Verstappen ahead of Alonso. Then came Hülkenberg, Lawson, Gasly, Magnussen, Joe, Pérez, Colopinto and Ocon.