F1 Qatar GP live commentary and updates - FP1
Follow updates of the sole practice session for this weekend's F1 Qatar GP at Losail International Circuit
Live Standings
Live Text
Will this man build on a strong start to his weekend? Well, quite frankly, he's got no choice because just like that, his title hopes are slim.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
And there we are - FP1 is coming to a close and it's a McLaren 1-2!
But Russell hasn't gone back top just yet as hello, McLaren is back and clearly over its early issues. (Soft tyre pics aren't available yet)
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Now it's just getting out of hand as Russell slides to fifth. Though the Mercedes man is now on his outlap with the soft rubber.
And yes we do! Hadjar is the first to do so and maybe he should get used to fighting for top spot, given his expected move to Red Bull next year...
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
We're now starting to see some soft tyre runs as we approach the final 10 minutes. Will somebody finally topple Russell?
Here is a pic of both McLaren cars. Will Piastri still be ahead on track come Sunday, though?
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
There's just over 20 minutes left in FP1 and we've still not seen anything other than the hard tyre.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey just popped up on our screens, just days after he was announced as Aston Martin's team principal for 2026. Here is his former colleague Verstappen on the news...
"It's probably something that you see in more teams, right? That someone more technical is taking on the role of team boss. And I guess Aston is going the same way. I mean you have to ask them, of course, why they opted to do it. But that's my logical explanation behind that.
"I'm happy to see that. I don't know how much that will change in the involvement of the car for Adrian. But I'm sure he will do well."
Adrian Newey, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Erik Junius
Not much is happening right now with over half the grid in their respective garages. So here is a pic of the man in front: George Russell.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
McLaren is enduring car trouble in this session and so is Leclerc, who reported an issue with the balance of his SF-23.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
An advert just popped up on Sky's coverage about the rebirth of the long throw in the Premier League this season. What is a tactic in F1 that you'd like to return in similar style?
It's been a slow start for the championship leader who is last, having only done six laps which is less than everybody else.
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
You can tell it's the only practice session of the weekend, because it's the busiest I've seen a track for a long time. All teams desperate to rack up that lap chart ahead of sprint qualifying later - still only the hard tyre being used.
Speaking of tyres, Verstappen already reporting issues with his front left inside the opening 10 minutes of practice. Perhaps Pirelli was onto something...
Something to look out for on Sunday is the maximum stint length rule of 25 laps imposed by Pirelli. This comes after analysis of last year's event that showed many tyres, especially the front left, were close to failure.
With its many high-speed turns and hot weather, Losail is very intense on the cars - so no surprise the hard rubber is being used by everybody in the early stages of practice.
It's already a busy track and Hulkenberg sets the pace with a 1m26.523s.
FP1 is go, go, goooooo
I tell you who else probably feels like they're living in a horror film: Lewis Hamilton. It's just not been the season the seven-time world champion would have hoped for at Ferrari and he put on an interesting display in Thursday's press conference.
"I'd be surprised if the other drivers are excited about next year at the end of a season because you usually don't have a lot of energy at the end of a season," Hamilton said. "Looking forward to time with family and stuff.
"Look, that's just in the heat of frustration [over his 2026 comments]. Often there's a lot of frustration at the end of races, but particularly when they haven't gone well. So no, I'm excited to see what the team build next year and to continue to build on with them."
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photo by: Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
The power of Max Verstappen...
When asked in Qatar ahead of this weekend’s grand prix if he thought a title win was still possible after Zandvoort, Verstappen said: “No, personally not. After that race when I got home I was like ‘we're checked out of the championship’.
“But yeah after that we had a really good turnaround. We definitely understood the car a bit better - put upgrades on the car. So all in all that, together with probably some mistakes as well on the other side and us maximising quite a few results, meant that we are here.
“I'm happy with it. I would have been a bit happier if we would have had a better first half. But that's how life is. You cannot turn back in time and then change it. But yeah overall now ‘til the end we'll just try and do the best we can.”
There was naturally a lot of talk about the title battle on Thursday during Qatar GP media day.
Norris will clinch his maiden crown if he outscores Verstappen and Piastri by at least two points this weekend. So he could at least put a smile on his face...
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Just remember, this will be the only practice session of the weekend given there is a sprint race tomorrow! Don't we all just love sprint weeeknds...
Good morning/afternoon/evening to you all as we look ahead to this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix, starting with practice which starts in approximately 45 minutes.
Losail International Circuit aerial view
By: Ed Hardy
