McLaren's Piastri Tops Qatar GP Practice, Edging Norris
Oscar Piastri led a critical sole practice session for the F1 Qatar GP, narrowly beating McLaren teammate Lando Norris. This crucial session, dominated by soft-tire qualifying runs, saw teams prepare for a sprint weekend featuring strict 25-lap tire stints due to Pirelli's mandate. McLaren's strong performance positions them as key contenders as Norris aims for his first world title.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri led the sole practice session for the Formula 1 Qatar Sprint weekend, narrowly outperforming teammate Lando Norris in a late flurry of qualifying simulations in Doha. This crucial session set the stage for a unique race weekend, with specific tire mandates influencing strategy.
Why it matters:
This single practice session was vital for teams to dial in their setups for the Losail International Circuit, especially with the sprint format limiting track time and Pirelli's strict 25-lap tire stint rule. McLaren's strong showing, with both drivers at the top, signals their potential competitiveness and suggests a thrilling weekend ahead as Norris aims to clinch his maiden world title.
The Details:
- McLaren Dominance: Oscar Piastri's second soft-tire run secured the top spot with a 1m20.924s, just 0.058s ahead of Lando Norris. This highlighted McLaren's strong performance on softer compounds.
- Tire Strategy: All 20 drivers spent the majority of the session on hard tires, simulating race conditions with varying fuel loads. This was in preparation for Pirelli's mandatory 25-lap maximum tire stint for Sunday's race, which will force a two-stopper strategy.
- Early Pace: Mercedes' George Russell initially led the session, but the focus quickly shifted to soft-tire runs as teams prepared for sprint qualifying.
- Challengers: Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin secured a promising third place, followed by Carlos Sainz (Williams) and Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls). Max Verstappen, who complained about his Red Bull's ride quality, finished sixth.
- Struggles: Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was eighth in what appeared to be a 'cumbersome' car, while Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) was 12th, indicating potential challenges for the Scuderia.
What's next:
The results of this practice session provide an initial glimpse into the pecking order for the Qatar Grand Prix. Sprint qualifying, which determines the grid for Saturday's sprint race, will be the next critical session. With McLaren showing strong form, all eyes will be on whether they can convert this practice pace into tangible results as Lando Norris looks to secure his first world title. The unique tire regulations will also play a significant role in strategies for both the sprint and main races, promising an unpredictable weekend of F1 action.