Max fastest in first and only practice session in Qatar

Published on 06 October 2023 by Misha van der Kroon

Max Verstappen was the fastest man during the first (and only) free practice session of the Qatar Grand Prix. There was a lot of slithering and sliding on the Losail International Circuit, where the brand new asphalt was covered by a lot of sand. Carlos Sainz took P2 in this session, followed by his teammate Charles Leclerc in P3. Fernando Alonso set the fourth fastest time on mediums, unlike to the top three who set their times on softs. Sergio Pérez completed the top five in Qatar.

After a year of absence, Formula 1 returns to Qatar. The Losail International Circuit has been completely resurfaced, and the kerbstones and run-off areas have been modified. The drivers and their teams only have one free practice session to get familiar with the updated circuit. Therefore, most drivers go out on track as soon as the lights turn green. As usual, it is warm in Qatar: 36 degrees with a track temperature of 41 degrees. There is quite a bit of sand on the track, and over the board radio Max informs his team that it is quite slippery. His first time on the clock is 1:34.913. He has a little moment and briefly goes off track, but can continue on his way.

Norris also goes off the track and hits one of the Styrofoam brake signs. Russell is the first to go under the 1:30 minutes, with a time of 1:29.979. Verstappen then goes faster and sets a 1:29.883, but Russell immediately answers with a 1:29.725. Leclerc climbs to P1 for a short time, but Alonso quickly takes over and sets a 1:28.624. Leclerc enters the pits and reports to his team over the radio that he hears strange noises coming from his engine.

Halfway through the session it is quiet on track. The top five is as follows: Alonso, Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell and Norris. A few minutes after mentioning the strange noise, Leclerc returns to the track, so the issue seems to be small. Max goes wide and when rejoining on track, it seems like he did not see Kevin Magnussen. However, the two do not touch and can both continue their way.

Piastri then sets the fastest time: he is more than two tenths faster than Alonso. Teammate Norris follows, taking P2 only six hundredths behind the Australian rookie. Then Leclerc sets a faster time, 1:28.104, and pushes the McLarens a place back. The Monegasque is more than two tenths faster than the Mclarens, but he is on the medium tyre instead of the hard.

With fifteen minutes to go, the soft tyres make an appearance in this session. Alexander Albon is the first to have the soft compound put on his car. Slowly but surely, other drivers follow and faster times are set on the clock. With five minutes to go, Alonso again sets the fastest time, and does this on the medium tyres. He is almost two tenths faster than Leclerc. Then Verstappen puts a 1:27.428 on the clock, jumping from P14 to P1. On the soft compound, Perez also sets a fast time, which is at that moment good for a third place. The Ferraris also go fast on the softs, and take P2 and P3 at the end of the session.

Contest GP Qatar: win a canvas 'Austria 2023 by Eric Jan Kremer'

Results first free practice Qatar: