Ferrari and Leclerc lead the way in Qatar GP Practice 1: F1 Constructors' battle begins

The Penultimate race of the 2024 season started in the Qatar Grand prix with the start of the first free practice session. The session ended with Ferrari leading the pack as their driver, Charles Leclerc, put on a staggering lap around the Lusail International circuit. The Monegasque ended the session with a fastest lap time of 1.21.953s, which is well ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri. Max verstappen was knocked out of the top ten as his Red Bull showed little to no pace against the Ferraris and McLarens.

Also Read: McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull Battle for F1 Constructors' Crown: What are the chances?

Constructors fight is official now

Here's the full classification from practice 🔽#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/SeV71SNJHp

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 29, 2024

Formula 1 constructors title is officially on between McLaren and Ferrari. The Red Bull comeback is unlikely to happen as both their drivers are out of the top ten during the first Practice session. Even if Max Verstappen put up a show in the next session, Sergio Perez’s struggling form brings some questions.

The two McLarens Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were 2 and 3, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished fourth at the end of the session. It looks like the intra-team battle between Leclerc and Sainz is really on this time, as both the drivers are very determined to show dominance.

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RB driver Yuki Tsunoda was surprised with his pace and finished fifth. It looks like he really meant the Red Bull seat of Sergio Perez for next year. Valtteri Bottas who is racing his penultimate race this season came sixth with his Sauber and neither scored any points this season.

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll was very far ahead of his teammate Alonso and finished seventh ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell and Alex Albon from Williams. Lewis Hamilton who was very impressive last race finished tenth ahead of the world champion Max Verstappen.

Fernando Alonso followed Verstappen in 12th and ahead of Nico Hulkenberg in 13th and Liam Lawson in 14th positions. Pierre Gasly who had a horrendous race in Vegas came with a new engine and was 15th at the end of the session and well ahead of Haas driver Kevin Magnussen.

The Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu finished 17th and was ahead of struggling Sergio Perez of the Red Bull team. He could only manage 18th place finish. The last two drivers were Williams driver Franco colapinto and Esteban Ocon of Alpine. The next session will be the Sprint qualifying which will be followed by the Sprint race tomorrow.

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