Oscar Piastri topped the only F1 Qatar GP practice session with a last minute flyer, beating McLaren teammate and Formula 1 championship leader Lando Norris.
The Australian driver set the benchmark lap time of 1:20.924 that underscored McLaren’s strong form heading into the high-stakes sprint weekend.
The 60-minute session commenced promptly at 13:30 GMT (16:30 local time), with cooler track temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius prompting an immediate rush as all 20 drivers hit the track on Pirelli’s harder C3 compound to gather long-run data and baseline aerodynamic information.
Mercedes’ George Russell wasted no time asserting early authority, lapping two-tenths quicker than Verstappen on the hards, while the McLaren duo of Norris and Piastri appeared subdued initially, focusing on mechanical checks rather than outright pace.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc reported steering anomalies early, mirroring Max Verstappen’s front-left tire concerns, as teams navigated the Lusail’s demanding Turn 1 high-speed right-hander and the flat-out kink at Turn 4, where precise balance is crucial to avoid understeer into the technical sector two.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz slotted in competitively mid-pack, logging clean laps to build confidence on a circuit where he has historically excelled in qualifying trim.
As the session progressed into its middle phase around the 20-minute mark, soft tire runs began in earnest, injecting volatility into the order with Oscar Piastri first to unleash a benchmark in the 1:21s, immediately displacing Russell from the top.
Piastri’s capitalised on McLaren’s superior traction out of the low-speed Turn 10 hairpin and stability through the high-load Turn 11-12 sequence, to ultimately set the fastest lap time of 1:20.924.
Norris responded aggressively, edging closer to Piastri’s benchmark but brushed wide at the final corner in pursuit of perfection, a minor excursion that denied him F1 Qatar GP practice lead by just 0.058 seconds, underscoring the razor-thin margins in McLaren’s intra-team battle for the Formula 1 championship.
Oscar Piastri rejects McLaren team order to support Lando Norris F1 title bid in Qatar
Full 2025 F1 Qatar Grand Prix FP1 Results
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso leveraged his vast experience on Lusail’s night conditions to climb to third with a 1:21.310 effort, 0.386 seconds adrift.
Alonso’s AMR25 showed promise in sector two where bodywork updates aimed at reducing drag paid dividends without compromising cornering grip.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz impressed in fourth after benefiting from a well-judged tow in sector one, while Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar followed in fifth, his debutant pace on softs belying his rookie status with a clean, committed lap that outpaced veterans.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Verstappen could only muster the sixth fastest lap after battling bouncing and odd steering feedback which saw the Dutchman vent frustrations over team radio, highlighting setup compromises needed for the windy desert conditions that amplify porpoising on the straights.
Alex Albon demonstrated William’s upward trajectory in seventh, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc recovered from early woes to eighth.
Leclerc’s struggled with understeer that forced conservative lines through the twisty middle sector, yet his long-run consistency hinted at race-day potential in cooler evening hours.
Lance Stroll made it two Aston Martins in the top ten, mirroring Alonso’s pace but with fewer laps due to traffic skirmishes, while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli snatched tenth with a late flyer that showcased his raw speed.
Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg punched above in 11th after extracting solid grip from the updated floor, while Lewis Hamilton logged the 12th fastest lap in the second Ferrari.
Yuki Tsunoda followed in 13th, outpacing Mercedes’ George Russell who faltered on softs despite his hard-tire benchmark. Haas duo of Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon held 15th and 17th with Gabriel Bortoleto separating the pair in 16th.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly finished down in 18th after a spin at Turn 14 erased his promising lap, while teammate Franco Colapinto brought up the rear in 20th.
READ MORE: How Lando Norris can win the 2025 F1 title at Qatar Grand Prix
