Piastri Edges Norris in Dramatic Qatar GP Practice
Oscar Piastri clinched the top spot in the only practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix sprint weekend, narrowly beating McLaren teammate Lando Norris. The hour-long session was a frantic scramble for data and performance under the lights, with Fernando Alonso impressive in third. Pirelli's mandated 25-lap tyre stint limit adds a strategic layer to Sunday's race, ensuring a two-stop strategy and making every piece of practice data critical for teams ahead of qualifying and the Sprint race.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri delivered a last-gasp effort to top the sole practice session of the Qatar Grand Prix sprint weekend, narrowly beating teammate Lando Norris in a frenetic hour marked by dust, drama, and a desperate scramble for performance under the Losail lights. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin secured a vintage third place.
Why it matters:
With Qatar hosting the final sprint weekend of 2024, only one practice session was available, making every moment crucial. Teams had to condense an entire race weekend's worth of data collection into just 60 minutes, directly impacting their qualifying setups and race strategy for both the Sprint and Sunday's Grand Prix. The limited track time meant that any misstep could severely compromise a team's entire weekend, pushing drivers and engineers to their limits to find pace and gather vital information under pressure.
The Details:
- Early Pace & Challenges: Mercedes' George Russell set an early benchmark with a 1m22.165s, which held for over half the session. Reigning champion Max Verstappen struggled with a "jumping" Red Bull RB21, complaining about the car's ride over Losail's demanding high-speed sections.
- McLaren's Adaptability: Lando Norris initially found himself 1.6 seconds off Piastri's early hard-tyre pace, describing it as a "shaky" opening phase. Both McLarens gradually improved, though they still appeared uneasy on the hard compound, highlighting the team's need to adapt quickly to the track conditions.
- Tyre Strategy Impact: Pirelli's mandate of limiting tyre stints to 25 laps for the Grand Prix directly influenced practice. This rule ensures a mandatory two-stop race on Sunday, making long-run data and tyre management insights from practice invaluable.
- Soft Tyre Transformation: The introduction of soft tyres in the final 15 minutes dramatically changed the leaderboard. Norris initially took the lead with a 1m20.982s, three-tenths clear of Piastri's first soft-tyre attempt. However, Piastri's subsequent perfectly executed lap
- Piastri's Winning Lap: Piastri's 1m20.924s was enough to snatch P1 in the session's final moments.
- Surprise Performances: Fernando Alonso claimed an impressive third. Isack Hadjar, a rookie, stunned with fifth for Racing Bulls, even outperforming Verstappen. Alex Albon placed seventh for Williams, continuing their strong form.
- Ferrari's Struggles: Charles Leclerc finished eighth, wrestling with an "uncooperative" SF-25, indicating further challenges for Ferrari in finding optimal performance.
Looking Ahead:
The intense and unpredictable nature of this single practice session suggests a thrilling sprint weekend in Qatar. The tight margins at the top, coupled with unexpected performances from midfield teams and the reigning champion's early struggles, set the stage for a competitive qualifying session and two action-packed races. If practice is any indication, the Losail circuit is poised to deliver a wild and unpredictable weekend, with the battle at the top far from settled. Teams will now have to fine-tune their setups based on limited data, adding another layer of strategic complexity to the Sprint Shootout and Saturday's Sprint race.