Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Verstappen leads opening session at Qatar Grand Prix

by Phillip Horton
4 years ago
A A
0
Verstappen leads opening session at Qatar Grand Prix

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 19: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar at Losail International Circuit on November 19, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202111190386 // Usage for editorial use only //

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Championship leader Max Verstappen led the way during the opening session for Formula 1’s inaugural Qatar Grand Prix at Losail.

Verstappen set a time of 1:23.723s to finish almost half a second clear of AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly.

Gasly set his time towards the end of the session as track conditions gradually improved.

Mercedes finished third and fourth respectively, with Valtteri Bottas ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who complained of being down on power early in the session.

RelatedPosts

Christian Horner (GBR) Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Dr Helmut Marko (AUT) Red Bull Motorsport Consultant. 28.02.2025. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day Three

The Christian Horner comments that ‘surprised’ Helmut Marko weeks before Red Bull sacking

1 hour ago
Oliver Rowland, Formula E Season 11 World Champion, Nissan

Oliver Rowland reveals Max Verstappen text prior to Formula E title triumph

14 hours ago

Hamilton, running a rainbow helmet, also spent some time in the pits after sustaining minor front wing damage from running over a kerb.

Yuki Tsunoda made it an encouraging early showing for AlphaTauri by classifying fifth.

Ferrari pair Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were sixth and seventh respectively, in front of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.

F1 drivers get first taste of Losail

Losail was constructed in anticipation of MotoGP’s arrival in 2004 and has been used by the two-wheeled series to open its season for over a decade.

Single-seater action at the venue, located near to capital Doha, has been limited, with the highest-profile event being the sole visit by the now-defunct GP2 Asia Series in 2009.

One of those races was won by a young Perez, one of only two drivers with prior experience of Losail, with the other being Nikita Mazepin, who entered an MRF Challenge event in 2014.

Losail was drafted onto Formula 1’s 2021 schedule at relatively short notice as an effective replacement for the cancelled Australian round.

The track record was broken in the early laps and Verstappen’s benchmark wound up over 15 seconds faster than the previous single-seater best, and almost half a minute up on MotoGP’s lap record.

Qatar will be absent from 2022’s schedule, as it focuses on its World Cup host duties, but it is due to return from 2023 on a 10-year deal, potentially at an alternative location.

It is the first of three events in the region to round out the 2021 campaign, with fellow new venue Jeddah and the revamped Yas Marina due to follow in early December.

A few issues on the kerbs

The session took place in hot and sunny daytime conditions at Losail.

The bulk of the important action – including qualifying and the race – will take place at 5pm local time, just after sunset, where cooler conditions will prevail.

Several drivers struggled over the heavy kerbs at some corners, with parts and sensors being affected, while the run-offs were heavily utilised and are likely to be scrutinised going further in the weekend.

McLaren’s Lando Norris, who rounded out the top 10, was one driver to encounter a problem after running heavily over the Turn 15 kerb.

That damaged a sensor and Norris coasted back slowly into the pit lane in order for repairs to be undertaken.

Mick Schumacher was the only driver to encounter a major off-track excursion as he went wide at Turn 7 and took on a sizeable volume of gravel into his Haas VF-21.

Lance Stroll completed the fewest laps, amassing only 11, after his Aston Martin AMR21 developed a hydraulics problem.

Mazepin’s session also came to an early close due to substantial floor damage caused while out on track.

Second practice is due to begin at 17:00 local time.

[motorsport_result id=’77102′]

Tags: F1LosailMax VerstappenQatarGP
Share200Tweet125Share

Related Posts

Christian Horner (GBR) Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Dr Helmut Marko (AUT) Red Bull Motorsport Consultant. 28.02.2025. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day Three
Formula 1

The Christian Horner comments that ‘surprised’ Helmut Marko weeks before Red Bull sacking

1 hour ago
Palou celebrated with his crew after getting his seventh win of the year. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
IndyCar

Palou returns to the top with Iowa Speedway victory

12 hours ago
Oliver Rowland of Great Britain driving the (23) Nissan Formula E Team Nissan e-4ORCE 05 on track during qualifying, ahead of the Berlin E-Prix, Round 13 of the 2025 FIA Formula E World Championship at Tempelhof Airport Circuit on July 12, 2025 in Berlin, Germany
Formula E

Berlin E-Prix: Oliver Rowland crowned Formula E World Champion as Nick Cassidy takes race win

17 hours ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
13Belgian GP25-27 July
14Hungarian GP01-03 August
15Dutch GP29-31 August
16Italian GP05-07 September
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri234
Lando Norris226
Max Verstappen165
George Russell147
Charles Leclerc120
Lewis Hamilton103
Andrea Kimi Antonelli63
Alexander Albon44
Nico Hulkenberg37
Isack Hadjar28

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Christian Horner (GBR) Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Dr Helmut Marko (AUT) Red Bull Motorsport Consultant. 28.02.2025. Formula 1 Testing, Sakhir, Bahrain, Day Three
Formula 1

The Christian Horner comments that ‘surprised’ Helmut Marko weeks before Red Bull sacking

July 14, 2025
There could be a sequel coming to F1: The Movie
Formula 1

Why Lewis Hamilton has cautioned against rushing F1 movie sequel

July 13, 2025
Williams has acknowledged a deep-rooted floor with the team's 2025 car
Formula 1

The deep-rooted 2025 F1 car flaw that Williams is ‘behind the curve’ on rectifying

July 13, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd