Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in the weekend’s exclusive practice session, with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri leading the way as everyone pushed their limits as the sun set in Qatar.
The grid had just an hour to get used to the changes around the Lusail International Circuit ahead of tonight’s sprint qualifying. Modified curbs and added gravel traps throughout the track.
READ MORE: Leclerc leads Norris and Piatri during Qatar GP practice.
Constructors’ Championship contenders Ferrari and McLaren both looked fast in the second half of the session. Leclerc recorded the fastest lap overall of 1m 21.953s, beating the McLaren duo by less than half a second.
A number of drivers, including Sergio Perez, Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, were caught up in track changes and struggled to avoid the gravel, but it was an incident-free time in rapidly cooling conditions.
Click the video player above to catch up on first practice for the Qatar Grand Prix.
