6.49pm – There will be 19 laps, watch out for the curbs
The Sprint Race in Qatar will be 19 laps. For FIA and Pirelli I will be a testing ground after the problems that emerged on Friday caused by the pyramid curbs which created micro-cracks in the tyres. There will be in-depth analyzes after the race, if the problem persists the Federation will oblige all teams to make at least 3 pit stops during Sunday’s race.
4.35pm – At 7.30pm the Sprint Race, starting like this (top 10)
1. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 2. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 3. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 4. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)
5. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 6. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 7. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 8. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 9. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin- Mercedes)10. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault)
4.11pm – McLaren from double defeat to double, Verstappen prepares the party
Papaya double after the double mockery of Friday’s qualifying. This time no one takes away the top places from Piastri and Norris, in their laps they did not go beyond the limits of the track (a chronic problem at Losail). It is yet another confirmation of the competitiveness of McLaren directed by Andrea Stella. The Australian is a fast, solid, confident boy: he will lead the way.
–
Oscar Piastri (Getty Images)
It’s supposed to be a joke. After a dull Friday, Ferrari reacted, as much as it could. Sainz fifth ahead of Leclerc, both gained a position thanks to the demotion of Fernando Alonso (yet another violation of track limits). But Russell, with Mercedes, is ahead. In the 19 laps we will understand a lot. One above all: the resistance of the tires to killer curbs. After Pirelli’s alarm, the FIA has prepared an emergency plan: if the problems continue, the obligation to make three pit stops during the race will be triggered.
4.09pm – Alonso’s time cancelled, the Ferraris gain positions
Sainz and Leclerc move to fifth and sixth thanks to the cancellation of Alonso’s time who climbs to ninth.
4.07pm – The top 10 of the shootout qualifications
Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, Russell, Alonso, Sainz, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Perez, Alonso and Ocon.
4.03pm – Mini pole in Piastri
It is Piastri who starts ahead of everyone in the Sprint Race, according to teammate Norris whose time is cancelled. And third Verstappen.
4.01pm – Norris and Piastri good
Provisional McLaren double, Leclerc having another time canceled for having exceeded the limits at turn 13.
3.59pm – Leclerc and Verstappen’s times cancelled
For having exceeded the limits of the track, a constant of this Qatar GP.
3.57pm – SQ3 starts
Eight minutes to decide who will start in front in the Sprint Race. The last session of the qualifying shootout begins.
3.51pm – SQ2, the top 10
Norris, Russell, Perez, Verstappen, Alonso, Leclerc, Sainz, Piastri, Hulkenberg and Ocon.
3.49pm – SQ2, those eliminated: Hamilton out
Gasly, Hamilton, Bottas, Lawson, Zhou
3.46pm – Sainz’s time also cancelled
The Spaniard now risks remaining outside the top 10, he has one last attempt available.
3.44pm – Leclerc beyond the limits of the track
Charles’ time was cancelled, and he exceeded the limits at Turn 5. Charles complained about the unstable rear and the wind which has always disturbed the aerodynamics of the SF-23.
3.42pm – Piastri and Norris did well
Yesterday the Australian from McLaren lost the second row for exceeding track limits, today he wants to redeem himself but the track conditions are very different. The same thing happened to Norris too, from second to tenth.
3.40pm – SQ2 begins
Ten minutes available in the second session of the qualifying shootout: at the end there will be ten drivers left to fight for the mini-pole.
Ore 15:35 – Sq1, la Top 10
Russell, Verstappen, Norris, Gasly, Sainz, Alonso, Piastri, Ocon, Perez, Lawson.
3.34pm – Those eliminated in SQ1
Stroll, Albon, Tsunoda, Magnussen, Sargeant.
Pray 15:30 – Leclerc does save
Last heart-pounding attempt for Charles who had made a mistake in the previous one after catching a gust of wind. He makes it to the next session, but what an effort.
3.27pm – Leclerc’s time cancelled
Leclerc exceeded the limits of the track, he will have to make another attempt to stay calm.
Russell sets the provisional fastest time ahead of Gasly, but Verstappen takes the lead. The Dutchman seems out of reach for everyone.
3.24pm – Ferrari struggled yesterday in real qualifying
Leclerc fifth thanks to McLaren’s double relegation, Sainz only twelfth. Losail is a particularly demanding track for the tyres, the Red showed old limits.
The first shoot-out qualifying session has started, Sq1. It will last 12 minutes, less than a traditional qualification. Leclerc immediately on track with medium tires like Sainz.
3.14pm – At 3.20pm the qualifying shoot-out begins
3.11pm – The mini-free practice ranking (Top 5)
Verstappen, Leclerc, Ocon, Gasly, Russell. But no one really pushed in this round of “familiarization” with the changes to the route.
3.08pm – Verstappen the fastest
Verstappen lapped in 1’27”085, a tenth faster than Charles Leclerc. These are times 4” slower than Max’s pole yesterday.
3.00 pm – 10′ mini-free practice starts
Ten extra minutes allowed to the drivers after the changes to the track due to the problems created by the curbs on the tyres. Cars on the track, the track configuration changes slightly.
2.40pm – Tire-breaking curbs. The FIA-Pirelli emergency plan, what happened
The shootout qualifications (valid to establish the starting grid of the Sprint Race) will begin at 3.20pm instead of 3pm and will be preceded by a mini-free practice session which will allow the drivers to familiarize themselves with the changes imposed on the track following the decisions of the FIA .
Why? After the first free practice on Friday, in fact, Pirelli warned the Federation of micro-cracks (they are visible under the microscope) of the tires caused by passing over the curbs (the particular surface of the Losail curbs had already caused several headaches two years ago) in some points of the track. The technicians of the Milanese manufacturer discovered a separation between the compound and the casing, on the external shoulder, in some tires among those inspected that had covered more than 20 laps.
The damage was caused by the pyramidal design of the curbs (5 centimeters high) and the drivers’ propensity, at turns 12-13, to use them as much as possible to gain a time advantage. After a consultation, the FIA has decided on an action plan which, among other things – should the problem arise again, further analyzes will be conducted today after the 19 laps of the Sprint race – includes, among other things, the obligation to carry out at least three pit stops during Sunday’s race.
This is to avoid exceeding the safety parameters relating to each tyre, old or used: no more than 20-22 turns for each set. In the future, more in-depth simulations will be conducted to avoid such problems. The absence of references (in 2021 the race was with an old generation F1) and the new asphalt recently laid, as well as the adjustments to the route finished a few weeks ago. As a result, the runway limits will also change.
2.26pm – How many points are missing from Verstappen
The countdown has started for the Dutch Red Bull driver who can already win his third World title at the end of today’s Sprint Race.
Ore 14:25 – Sprint e Gp in tv
2.20pm – Qualifying Shootout and Sprint Race
Second day of the weekend in Qatar for Formula 1. It starts at 3.20pm (instead of 3pm) with the Qualifying Shootout and then continues at 7.30pm with the Sprint Race: this is the program on the eve of the race on the Losail circuit.
2023-10-07 16:52:30
#Qatar #Piastri #pole #Sprint #race #ahead #Norris #Verstappen #3rd #Sainz #5th #Leclerc #6th #Direct
