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Formula 1 Qatar GP

F1 Qatar GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 and FP2

Friday's practice action at the inaugural Qatar GP at Losail

Track overview

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Meanwhile, Perez has asked his team for a new all-white visor for the next session. Clearly has an element of tint that just isn't necessary in the darkness - rookie error there!
As the fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway commentator Tom Carnegie would have called Bottas's lap, 'it's a new tra-aaaaaaaaa-ck record!'
All change at the top of the leaderboard. Verstappen had pumped in the new fastest time with a 1m23.743s - becoming the first man under the 1m24s bracket in this session - but Hamilton went faster still with a 1m23.604s. Then Bottas went faster still on a 1m23.324s.
Latifi manages to complain about being held up by Norris through the penultimate corner in the politest tone possible. "I don't know what the McLaren was doing there," he said in such a way as you'd ask for a book of second class stamps at the post office.
Hamilton improves to go fourth-quickest on a 1m24.690s, but is immediately shuffled back to fifth as Perez slots in behind his team-mate with the third-quickest time, a 1m24.338s.
Fastest so far of the hard tyre runners is Leclerc in P8, who has posted a 1m25.280s in the Ferrari. He's just ahead of Norris and Gasly, completing the top 10.
But Tsunoda isn't going to take that lying down and pumps in a 1m24.233s to sneak back ahead and re-take top spot for AlphaTauri.
And sure enough, it's the world championship leader who now goes fastest, Verstappen displacing Bottas with a 1m24.285s in the Red Bull.
Bottas now goes fastest with his first timed lap for Mercedes, a 1m24.421s. But Verstappen is now out there too...
A moment of side-by-side high-jinks on the pit straight there, as Sainz pulls alongside the sparking Red Bull of Perez and thinks about a move, before realising hero moves in practice don't earn any points and pulling out.
Tsnuoda is then shuffled down to fourth, as Hamilton goes second-quickest on a 1m25.088s and Stroll slotting into third for Aston Martin.
But the Japanese driver's effort is quickly beaten by Alonso, who puts the Alpine quickest with a 1m24.723s.
Tsunoda has put his name top of the pile so far after a strong run for team-mate Gasly in FP1. It's a 1m25.220s for the AlphaTauri rookie.
Mazepin is one of only two drivers in the field, along with Perez, who has raced here before. It's an unusual position for the rookie to be in this year - not that it counts for a huge amount when driving the slowest car in the field, mind.
A bit of housekeeping - Haas's Nikita Mazepin won't be taking part in the session due to a chassis change. Here's the story: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mazepin-to-miss-qatar-gp-fp2-due-to-haas-f1-chassis-change/6798577/
Bottas has gone out on the medium tyres, as does team-mate Hamilton and Perez's Red Bull.
Green flag
And FP2 in Qatar is now underway, with Raikkonen and Bottas the first men out.
Just as a reminder in case you didn't catch it earlier, Verstappen was quickest in FP1 from Gasly, with Bottas the fastest Mercedes over four tenths off the pace. This session will be the more representative though with the race start taking place at the same time (5pm local).
The light has almost completely gone as we approach 5pm local time, and the track is now lit artificially with powerful overhead lighting. Always helps with generating a bit of atmosphere, I find.
Amid all of the off-track hullabaloo, we have a practice session to be getting ready for, which starts in a little under five minutes. We're glad you're here to join us for it.
One further development during the break between sessions was Red Bull's Horner admitting that - in the wake of Wolff declaring "diplomacy has ended" following the Brazilian GP - the two team bosses currently have "no relationship". 

Here's the full story on that: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/horner-no-relationship-with-wolff-amid-most-political-f1-fight/6798566/
For a full analysis of why the stewards reached their decision not to proceed with the right of review, then look no further than this piece by Grand Prix editor Alex Kalinauckas: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/analysis-why-the-stewards-denied-mercedes-a-right-of-review-into-verstappens-brazil-f1-driving/6798618/?nrt=54
Wolff has subsequently clarified that Mercedes' decision to request a review was not about seeking punishment for Verstappen, but was "more about the principle and the philosophy".

He said: “Because if it stays that way, that means overtaking from the outside is pretty much not possible anymore."

Here's the full story: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mercedes-right-of-review-not-about-punishing-verstappen/6798659/
His Red Bull counterpart, Christian Horner, naturally welcomed the move not to proceed further.

He said: "I think it's obviously the right decision because it would have opened Pandora's Box regarding a whole bunch of other incidents that happened at that race. The most important thing now is to focus on this GP [in Qatar]."
Responding to the development, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: "We wanted to trigger a discussion around it, because probably it will be a theme in the next few races.

"I think that objective is achieved. We didn't really think it would go any further."
For the full stewards statement explaining its decision, click here: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/full-fia-stewards-statement-on-mercedes-review-request/6798492/
Mercedes presented the evidence from the forward-viewing camera on Verstappen's car, which wasn't available to the stewards when they elected not to open an investigation into his driving. However, it was deemed in the review that the video angles available to the stewards at the time of the incident were sufficient to be satisfied with its decision.
Firstly, the long-awaited outcome of Mercedes' request to a review of Max Verstappen's move to edge Lewis Hamilton off the track while duelling over the lead of last Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix has finally arrived. The FIA opted to deny Mercedes' request after reviewing new evidence.
Welcome back to Autosport's coverage of the Qatar Grand Prix as we build up to FP2 in a little under 20 minutes' time. While we've been away, a fair bit has happened...
We'll be back a bit later for FP2 in the dark - see ya then!
Breaking news
Here's the report from the first practice session in Qatar: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-qatar-gp-verstappen-leads-from-gasly-as-drivers-get-first-taste-of-losail-track/6798244/
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Vettel reporting more loose things in the cockpit of the car as he brings his session to a close.
Checkered flag
That's it for FP1 - Verstappen fastest from Gasly, with Bottas, Hamilton and Tsunoda completing the top five.
Off track
Schumacher's gone off at Turn 7, but has managed to rejoin - with lots of gravel popping off the car.
Two minutes remain in this FP1 session, so it's last orders.
Gasly moves up to second, on a 1m24.160s. AlphaTauri looking pretty handy so far.
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"There's something loose near my right boot," Vettel says, meaning he comes into the pits so Aston can locate the culprit.
Mercedes has seen an issue with the car, and so Hamilton's been asked to box. Meanwhile, Sainz is annoyed at Perez getting in the way, as the Spanish driver also gets in the way of Tsunoda.
Meanwhile, Gasly and Perez move up to fifth and sixth, into the high 1m24s.
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"Are we slow on the straight or something," Hamilton asks. "Not particularly," comes the reply.

By: Autosport Staff

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