F1 News: Leclerc tops only practice for 2024 Qatar GP

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc turned a lap of 1m21.953s to top the only practice session for the 2024 Qatar GP on the Lusail International Circuit

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Since this is a Sprint weekend, there is no more practice sessions to get your car setup, and the Ferrari team who came out flying. Leclerc was even fastest of the Pirelli hard tires.

Mclaren’s Lando Norris was a massive 0.425s behind Leclerc as McLaren hopes to hold off Ferrari for the 2024 Constructors Title.

Oscar Piastri was close behind his McLaren teammate in third, 0.472s behind Leclerc.

Carlos Sainz Jr. was 4th quick in the #55 Ferrari, 0.582s behind teammate Leclerc.

Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top-5 for the Visa Cash App team, 1.092s behind Leclerc.

Other notables – Mercedes drivers Russell and Hamilton in 8th and 10th. Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in 11th and 18th.

With fuel loads an unknown, traffic playing a part and the track evolving, it is hard to know who looks genuinely quick and who might have lucked out with some fresh air on their final runs.

Sprint Qualifying is up next – time to put it all on the line. And with shorter segments, there’s no time if the drivers do run wide or make a mistake.

There have been two Grands Prix here – and both were won from pole. The only Sprint was also won from pole, by Piastri.

One lap pace is crucial to success here, and so far, it is advantage Ferrari.

2024 Qatar GP Practice 1 Results

Pos	No	Driver	Nat.	Car	Time	Behind	Laps
1	16	Charles Leclerc	MON	Ferrari	1:21.953	+0.000s	30
2	4	Lando Norris	GBR	McLaren Mercedes	1:22.378	+0.425s	24
3	81	Oscar Piastri	AUS	McLaren Mercedes	1:22.425	+0.472s	26
4	55	Carlos Sainz	ESP	Ferrari	1:22.535	+0.582s	30
5	22	Yuki Tsunoda	JPN	RB Honda RBPT	1:23.045	+1.092s	27
6	77	Valtteri Bottas	FIN	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:23.064	+1.111s	29
7	18	Lance Stroll	CAN	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:23.099	+1.146s	24
8	63	George Russell	GBR	Mercedes	1:23.160	+1.207s	27
9	23	Alexander Albon	THA	Williams Mercedes	1:23.161	+1.208s	29
10	44	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	Mercedes	1:23.188	+1.235s	26
11	1	Max Verstappen	NED	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:23.213	+1.260s	26
12	14	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes	1:23.227	+1.274s	24
13	27	Nico Hulkenberg	GER	Haas Ferrari	1:23.245	+1.292s	27
14	30	Liam Lawson	NZL	RB Honda RBPT	1:23.562	+1.609s	29
15	10	Pierre Gasly	FRA	Alpine Renault	1:23.620	+1.667s	28
16	20	Kevin Magnussen	DEN	Haas Ferrari	1:23.715	+1.762s	27
17	24	Zhou Guanyu	CHN	Kick Sauber Ferrari	1:23.880	+1.927s	27
18	11	Sergio Perez	MEX	Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT	1:24.039	+2.086s	26
19	43	Franco Colapinto	ARG	Williams Mercedes	1:24.200	+2.247s	29
20	31	Esteban Ocon	FRA	Alpine Renault	1:24.280	+2.327s	21