Oscar Piastri tops FP1 at Qatar GP, edging Lando Norris in a tight session. A dramatic one-hour run sets the tone for an intense weekend.
The Qatar Grand Prix weekend kicked off with fireworks long before the lights go out, thanks to a thrilling FP1 session that had fans leaning closer to their screens by the minute. With only one hour of practice available—courtesy of the Sprint weekend format—teams and drivers were under immense pressure to extract performance quickly. And right when it mattered most, Oscar Piastri stepped up, narrowly beating teammate Lando Norris in a tightly contested McLaren domination that surprised many after a shaky start.
The Lone Practice That Set the Weekend Tone
Sprint weekends are a bit like cooking dinner with only one pan—you can get the job done, but everything needs to be timed perfectly. With just one practice session, teams had no luxury of long setup runs or experimental tyre strategies. Every lap mattered.
McLaren’s Early Struggles on Hard Tyres
McLaren arrived in Qatar with confidence, but the opening minutes did little to show it. Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris wrestled with the hard compound tyres, sliding around the smooth Lusail track as if the cars were skating on glass. Grip was scarce, and the breezy conditions only made things trickier.
A Sunset Start and a Queue of Cars
As the sun dipped behind the horizon, the circuit lit up beautifully—almost poetically—while nearly the entire grid lined up at pit exit. With so little time to prepare for Sprint Qualifying, no one wanted to waste a moment.
Russell, Verstappen, and Hulkenberg Trade Early Blows
George Russell struck first, setting the early benchmark. Max Verstappen quickly followed and then Nico Hulkenberg stole the spotlight with multiple purple sectors, briefly reminding everyone why his one-lap pace is often underrated.
Verstappen Battles Tyre and Steering Problems
Just when Verstappen looked ready to put the session under his control, the Dutchman reported problems with his front-left tyre. Moments later, he added another complaint—steering trouble. For a driver chasing the top spot in the championship, it was far from ideal.
Leclerc’s Balance Woes Add to Ferrari’s Concerns
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had similar troubles. Sitting far down the order, he radioed that something felt off with the balance. Though he later improved to sixth, it was clear the car looked unsettled throughout the session.
Norris at the Bottom: A Rare Sight
Perhaps the most surprising moment came when Norris found himself sitting 20th halfway through the session. A setup tweak helped, but his first push lap went wide, kicking up dust and only adding to the frustration.
Mid-Session Reset as Teams Rework Setups
Around the 30-minute mark, the track grew quiet as teams pulled drivers in for recalibration. Russell still held P1, Verstappen followed, and many teams were scrambling to understand how to extract time from the hard tyres.
Hadjar’s Soft-Tyre Gamble
With just 10 minutes remaining, Isack Hadjar rolled the dice. Switching to soft tyres, he immediately shot to the top—an aggressive move that forced teams to respond. His lap was a statement: the track was evolving fast, and those who hesitated would lose out.
McLaren’s Late Surge to the Top
Suddenly, the McLarens sprang to life. Norris climbed from the bottom of the timesheets to the very top. Moments later, Piastri answered with a stunning lap of his own. The young Australian showed remarkable composure as he shaved off precious hundredths to reclaim P1.
Piastri’s Clinical Lap Under Pressure
Piastri’s final time—1m 20.294s—was just 0.058s ahead of Norris. It was the kind of lap that looked effortless but required absolute precision. Under the floodlights, he looked calm, confident, and ready for more.
Alonso’s Strong Pace for Aston Martin
Behind the McLaren duo, Fernando Alonso delivered an impressive performance for Aston Martin. Finishing third, he looked sharp and comfortable—something that could spell trouble for rivals later in the weekend.
Final Classified Order of FP1
The top 10 read as follows:
- Oscar Piastri
- Lando Norris
- Fernando Alonso
- Carlos Sainz
- Isack Hadjar
- Max Verstappen
- Alex Albon
- Charles Leclerc
- Lance Stroll
- Kimi Antonelli
What the Session Means for Sprint Qualifying
Teams now have only a few hours to decode the data from FP1 before diving straight into Sprint Qualifying. With the track evolving rapidly and drivers learning on the fly, the session later tonight promises unpredictability and plenty of drama.
Final Thoughts From the Paddock
FP1 in Qatar wasn’t just fast—it was fascinating. From Verstappen’s mechanical niggles to McLaren’s shock comeback and Piastri’s late surge, the one-hour session packed enough action to set the stage for a thrilling weekend ahead.
FAQs
1. Why was there only one practice session in Qatar?
Because the Qatar Grand Prix is running a Sprint weekend format, giving drivers just a single hour of practice before competitive sessions begin.
2. How did McLaren turn their pace around so quickly?
A combination of setup tweaks, improving track grip, and switching tyre compounds helped McLaren surge to the top late in the session.
3. What issues did Max Verstappen face in FP1?
Verstappen reported tyre degradation on the front-left and additional steering problems that limited his performance.
4. Why did Norris struggle early in the session?
He struggled with balance and grip on the hard tyres, compounded by windy conditions that made the car difficult to control.
5. Who looked strongest after FP1?
Oscar Piastri led the session, but Alonso, Sainz, and a recovering Verstappen also showed promising pace heading into Sprint Qualifying.
