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Formula 1
Qatar GP
F1 Qatar GP Live Commentary and Updates – Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix
Max Verstappen wrapped up his third F1 world title in the Qatar sprint on Saturday and starts today’s grand prix on pole looking to celebrate in style.
But the race has thrown F1 teams a curveball with a mandated maximum of 18-lap stints – effectively pushing all drivers into a three-stop strategy – due to safety concerns on tyre trouble.
In conjunction with Pirelli, the FIA made the emergency measures official on Sunday afternoon before the race, following Saturday’s track limit changes at Turn 12 and 13 to deter drivers from going over the new and harsher kerbs.
The Qatar GP gets under way at 6:00pm BST.
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Pit stop
Verstappen doesn't pit and again the second place driver, Russell, dives into the pits for his second stop. The position chart at the end of this race is going to be wild.
Pit stop
Hulkenberg plunges down the order as he pits and serves his 10 second penalty. He is now P18.
Pit stop
With those pitting directly behind him, Verstappen now has a 10s lead over Norris on lap 14. Scratch that, Norris pits, which puts Russell back into second place. Mad, given he was he was 18th on lap two.
Lawson is walking a tightrope now after being shown the black and white warning flag for track limits. One more strike and he'll have a five second penalty.
Pit stop
At the end of lap 12 Piastri and Leclerc pit, potentially to respond to Alonso's earlier stop to avoid an undercut.
Pit stop
Verstappen needs to pit no later than lap 17 according to the F1 data. Meanwhile at the end of lap 11, Alonso pits from third and Gasly pits from sixth.
Pit stop
Ocon pits from P7 to remove one set of medium tyres and fit another. He returns to the track in P17 - highlighting how closely bunched the field currently is.
Pit stop
Tsunoda is the first to take a pitstop under green flag conditions. He exits in P18 but will be able to make use of the undercut to regain some ground in the coming laps.
In theory the drivers on medium and hard tyres shouldn't need to worry about tyre management given the 18-lap stint maximum, but the gaps are stabilising between the frontrunners at a couple of seconds apiece.
That didn't take long. A simple move for Russell on Sargeant into Turn 1 and next up is Albon in the other Williams.
More progress for Russell who passes Zhou for P12 at the Turn 6 hairpin. Next up is Sargeant in the Williams.
Stopwatch
Verstappen is pushing on with a 1m29.083s to set a new fastest lap. His lead has grown to 2.1s.
Off track
Alonso goes wide and off track at Turn 4, but manages to get back on the circuit without losing a place to Leclerc right behind him.
Stopwatch
Piastri has got clear of DRS range from Alonso as DRS is enabled by putting in a fastest lap of anyone.
Penalty
And bad news for Haas and Hulkenberg. The German forgot to leave a blank space and pulled into the grid position left vacant by Sainz.
He must serve a 10 second penalty ahead of his next stop.
He must serve a 10 second penalty ahead of his next stop.
Up to P13 goes Russell with a bold move around the outside of Perez at Turns 4 and 5.
Verstappen's lead is 1.2s at the end of the first proper lap of racing. Alonso is trying to keep within a second of Piastri for when DRS gets activated at the end of this lap.
After starting last and in the pitlane, Perez is up in P13 at present, benefitting from Hamilton's retirement and the stops of those who were around him during the safety car interuption.
Russell is in the wars again, getting very close to the rear of Perez's Red Bull as the pair both use the runoff to extend the field of play.
Green flag
Verstappen nails the restart to blast clear of Piastri, who in turn keeps clear of Alonso in third.
Quote
Toto Wolff, who isn't in Qatar as he's recovering from a knee injury, tells Russell over the radio: "George, let's race now, let's make the best out of it."
Pit stop
Here comes a raft of pitstops. This is committing to a four stop strategy. It's only drivers at the back that are stopping.
Zhou, Stroll, Lawson and Magnussen are those to have fitted fresh rubber.
Zhou, Stroll, Lawson and Magnussen are those to have fitted fresh rubber.
The safety car is coming in at the end of lap four. Here we go again.
Quote
"So sorry guys. I wasn't even looking, I was just focused ahead and he just came from nowhere," Russell says on team radio. Meanwhile Hamilton crosses the track on his way back to the pits and he'll get in trouble for that.
And further keeping the stewards busy, Hulkenberg is under investigation for being out of position at the start.
The stewards' will investigate the incident between the Mercedes pairing after the race.
Both Mercedes got a great launch, Russell on the outside of Verstappen, but he gets sandwiched by Hamilton coming in hot into Turn 1. The pair clash wheels and it sends Hamilton out as his right-rear wheel comes off.
Pit stop
Russell has pitted for a new front wing and a fresh set of tyres. He returns to the track in P18 as the last runner. There were, however, plenty of concerned faces while checking over the car.
Verstappen leads from Piastri who made a mega start and benefits from the Merc clash to go from sixth to second. Alonso is third from Leclerc and Ocon.
Crash
Hamilton is out of the race as he climbs from his Mercedes in the gravel at Turn 1. Russell is still going but down in 17th with a damaged car.
In the lower order Norris is up to P6 with Gasly, Tsunoda, Bottas and Hulkenberg all in the points. There are currently eight different teams in the points paying positions!
Safety car
The safety car is deployed! What a disaster for Mercedes!
It's Spain 2016 all over again. Guess who won that day...only the current race leader, Verstappen!
Lights green
Off we go and the two Mercedes crash at the first corner! Russell and Hamilton collide as Verstappen skips clear in the lead!
In the pits, the blankets come off to reveal a set of hard tyres on Perez's Red Bull. Playing the long game from a disadvantaged starting position!
The drivers are lining up on the grid ready for the start, here we go...
Quote
"I'm a sitting duck to all these guys," Hamilton says on the formation lap. I'd take that as he's regretting being the only frontrunner starting on the softs.
Green flag
The formation lap is under way and everyone gets away cleanly. That's a good start.
The two Williams drivers and Zhou, who all got knocked out in SQ1 yesterday, are all on fresh medium tyres. Not making it through the qualifying phases does have its uses, it would appear!
It is worth stating it isn't clear who is on fresh tyres and therefore if they can go for 18 laps from the start or will need to pit earlier. For those on the softs, I'd be surprised if they made it to lap 18.
By: Autosport Staff
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