Oscar Piastri led teammate Lando Norris in the solitary Free Practice 1 session for the Qatar Grand Prix, gaining a crucial early advantage in their championship battle. With Norris needing only to outscore Piastri and Max Verstappen by two points for the title, Piastri's strong start sets the stage for an intense Sprint weekend as teams scramble for optimal setups with limited track time.
Oscar Piastri led the only practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix, showcasing strong pace for McLaren, while Max Verstappen reported significant gearbox issues, calling the clipping at Turn 6 a "disaster." The session, crucial for setup amid new tire rules and challenging heat, saw Piastri narrowly outpace teammate Lando Norris, raising concerns for Red Bull ahead of sprint qualifying.
McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris led the only practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix, with Piastri setting the fastest time. Norris, a key championship contender, finished a close second, while Max Verstappen struggled, finishing sixth. This strong performance by McLaren bodes well for their sprint qualifying prospects and championship ambitions.
McLaren was granted an FIA exemption for the Qatar GP's practice session after discovering issues with both cars, especially Lando Norris's. The team conducted unusual non-destructive testing on Norris's car, checking for internal cracks in carbon fiber components. This last-minute scrutiny, potentially linked to previous porpoising or sensor anomalies, disrupted their pre-session routine, highlighting the critical need for safety and structural integrity in F1.
Former Haas principal Guenther Steiner has urged McLaren to back Lando Norris in the F1 drivers' championship, criticizing their 'let them race' policy. With Norris holding a 24-point lead over teammate Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, Steiner believes McLaren must prioritize Norris's title bid, warning against the risk of losing out to Verstappen if internal competition persists. His comments highlight the strategic dilemma McLaren faces as the season nears its end.
The Qatar Grand Prix weekend begins with a solitary 60-minute practice session, critical for teams to optimize setups and manage Pirelli's strict tire wear limits. As the final F1 Sprint event of the season, this session is the only opportunity for drivers and engineers to prepare for Sprint qualifying, highlighting the intense pressure and strategic demands on all competitors.
Max Verstappen has lauded Andrea Kimi Antonelli's "impressive" rookie F1 season with Mercedes, particularly his strong late-season form that included multiple podium finishes and a standout recovery drive in Las Vegas. Verstappen noted Antonelli's tire management and adaptability on new tracks, drawing parallels to his own early career and underscoring the young driver's immense potential.
Cadillac's upcoming Formula 1 team is breaking from tradition by not actively seeking a title sponsor for its 2026 debut, prioritizing brand identity and strategic partnerships over immediate naming rights deals. This move, backed by significant financial support from General Motors, allows Cadillac to lead with its own brand and build a "fewer, bigger, better" partnership ecosystem, rather than rushing into a high-value title agreement.
Yuki Tsunoda's recent comments about his F1 future have sparked speculation, as he first hinted at knowing undisclosed information before backtracking. With Red Bull set to announce its 2026 driver lineup for both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls after the Qatar Grand Prix, Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are reportedly vying for a seat at Racing Bulls, making this a pivotal moment for their careers. Tsunoda states he has no "Plan B," focusing entirely on his performance.
Max Verstappen, despite declaring himself 'checked out' of the 2025 F1 title fight after the Dutch GP, has staged a remarkable comeback. Thanks to Red Bull's timely upgrades and his consistent performance, he's now just 24 points behind leader Lando Norris with two races left, setting up an exhilarating championship showdown.
Carlos Sainz suggests F1 could solve its persistent stewarding issues by having recently retired drivers on FIA panels. He argues that their contemporary insights, akin to those of current F1 analysts, offer superior judgment compared to the sport's confusing guidelines, which he believes create more problems than solutions. This proposal aims to bring more clarity and consistency to F1's incident rulings.
Carlos Sainz suggested ex-F1 drivers Karun Chandhok, Anthony Davidson, and Jolyon Palmer as ideal stewards due to their insightful post-race analysis. While Chandhok appreciated the praise, he indicated he's not ready to leave his pundit role. This highlights ongoing driver frustration with inconsistent stewarding and a desire for more racer-informed judgments in Formula 1.
