Oscar Piastri tops practice in Qatar Grand prix ahead of sprint qualifying

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has set the benchmark for the only practice session of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, ahead of sprint qualifying. 

McLaren topped the timing sheets with a 1-2 lockout around the Lusail circuit, in a race weekend that the team needs to bounce back after their double disqualification at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. 

Qatar hosts the final sprint race weekend of the season, meaning this was the only free practice session of the weekend for the teams to fine-tune their setups ahead of the sprint.

Additionally, the teams and drivers couldn’t do any more than 25 laps on each set of tyres around the circuit, and the count included this session too. Meaning, if the teams hit the limit, it is out for the rest of the session. 

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After the hour passed, it was Piastri who sat on the top of the timing boards and was the overall pacesetter. The Australian pipped his championship-leading teammate, Lando Norris, who is on the cusp of championship victory, by 0.058s. 

Fernando Alonso rounded out the top three for Aston Martin, in third, 0.386s behind the pace.

However, Red Bull’s championship contender and reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, could only finish sixth and was half a second off the pace of the McLarens.

So, who finished where after FP1?

1. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
2. Lando Norris, McLaren
3. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
4. Carlos Sainz, Williams
5. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
7. Alexander Albon, Williams
8. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
9. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
10. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
11. Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber
12. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
13. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
14. George Russell, Mercedes
15. Oliver Bearman, Haas
16. Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber
17. Esteban Ocon, Haas
18. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
19. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
20. Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Adrian Newey to be Aston Martin F1 Team Principal in 2026
• Qatar Grand Prix Preview: Championships on the line in penultimate round
• Gabriel Bortoleto given five-place grid penalty for Qatar GP after Lance Stroll crash
• Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix
• Both McLaren cars at risk of disqualification of Las Vegas Grand Prix
• Max Verstappen keeps championship contention with Las Vegas Grand Prix win

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

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