The highly anticipated 2023 Qatar Grand Prix weekend kicked off with a solitary yet intensely competitive practice session at the Losail International Circuit. Setting the pace from the outset, championship leader Max Verstappen demonstrated his formidable form, clocking the fastest time ahead of the two Ferraris. This crucial session served as the only opportunity for teams and drivers to fine-tune their setups and understand the newly resurfaced track before heading directly into qualifying later in the day, a format unique to sprint race weekends that adds an extra layer of challenge and excitement.
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Verstappen’s blistering lap was a testament to his and Red Bull’s superior package, placing him a commanding three-tenths of a second clear of Carlos Sainz Jnr and Charles Leclerc. The session itself was a rigorous test for all competitors, as they grappled with incredibly low grip levels on a circuit heavily coated in desert dust. The unique conditions of the Qatari desert, combined with the recently laid asphalt, presented a steep learning curve for every driver, making precise car control and rapid adaptation absolutely essential.
As the sun began its descent towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the desert landscape, the first and only practice session of the weekend commenced. The Losail International Circuit, renowned for its challenging layout, had undergone a significant resurfacing, and its location in the arid desert meant it was alarmingly dusty. From the moment the pit lane opened, plumes of sand and dust were visibly kicked up by the cars as they embarked on their initial exploratory laps, highlighting the immediate challenge drivers faced in finding traction and confidence.
The opening minutes saw most teams opting for the hard compound tyres for their initial exploratory runs. This conservative approach allowed drivers to gauge the track’s characteristics without pushing the limits too early. It was Carlos Sainz Jnr who set the very first benchmark, albeit a cautious one, with a 1’37.214 in his Ferrari, illustrating the careful dance required on the unfamiliar surface. However, Max Verstappen wasted no time in demonstrating his intent, immediately pushing harder out of the garage and posting a significantly quicker 1’34.913 on his first flying lap, signalling Red Bull’s confidence and the Dutchman’s innate ability to adapt swiftly to new conditions.
As the session progressed and drivers became more familiar with the circuit, a universal observation emerged: the natural grip was incredibly scarce, and venturing even slightly off the established racing line proved perilous. This lack of grip led to several minor incidents and moments of drama. Charles Leclerc, pushing hard, ran wide at Turn 13, demonstrating the fine margins at play. Similarly, Lando Norris had an unfortunate encounter with one of the brake marker boards, clipping it and sending pieces of polystyrene into his front wing. This necessitated an unscheduled pit stop for the McLaren driver, costing him valuable track time in a session where every lap counted.
Despite the initial challenges, the track rapidly evolved, with lap times tumbling dramatically as rubber was laid down and the dust began to clear from the racing line. This phenomenon, known as track evolution, is always present but was particularly pronounced at Losail given its pristine, dusty state. George Russell of Mercedes was among the first to break into the 1’31s, showcasing the significant improvements in grip. Yet, the relentless pace of Max Verstappen continued to dominate. Less than ten minutes later, he shattered that benchmark, diving into the 1’29s. This incredible pace came despite a noticeable oversteer moment out of Turn 10, which saw the championship leader briefly slide off track, only to expertly gather the car and continue his charge.
The session continued its frantic pace, with the top spot changing hands multiple times. Veteran driver Fernando Alonso, ever the master of adapting to challenging conditions, briefly claimed the fastest time with a 1’28.624, showcasing the potential of his Aston Martin. His tenure at the top was short-lived, however, as the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris then edged slightly ahead, underlining their strong form. By this point, the sun had almost completely set, and the floodlights illuminating the circuit transformed the atmosphere, ushering in cooler conditions that further aided grip levels. It was under these rapidly improving conditions that Charles Leclerc truly shone, setting a new best time of 1’28.104 on the medium compound tyres, nearly three-tenths faster than the McLarens, signalling Ferrari’s one-lap pace.
With qualifying looming large and the clock ticking down, the final 10 minutes of the practice session were dedicated to crucial low-fuel runs, essentially miniature qualifying simulations. This segment saw a flurry of activity and even faster lap times. Nico Hulkenberg, in a strong showing for Haas, jumped up to second place on the soft tyres, demonstrating the pace available. However, Fernando Alonso swiftly reclaimed the top spot with an impressive 1’27.919 on fresh medium tyres, once again proving his enduring competitiveness. Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull was unable to match Alonso’s pace on the softs, indicating a potential struggle with tyre management or setup. But then, Max Verstappen delivered the definitive statement of the session, easily surpassing Alonso to go almost half a second clear with a formidable 1’27.428, cementing his position at the top.
In the dying moments of the session, it was only the Ferrari duo who could get anywhere near Max Verstappen’s benchmark. Both Carlos Sainz Jnr and Charles Leclerc put in strong efforts, leapfrogging Fernando Alonso to secure second and third positions respectively. However, their efforts were still significantly adrift of the Red Bull driver. These final improvements at the very top of the order proved to be the last meaningful changes before the chequered flag waved, bringing an end to the hour-long practice session. The session provided tantalizing glimpses into the pecking order and highlighted the unique challenges of the Losail circuit, setting the stage for an exciting qualifying and sprint race weekend.
At the close of the session, Max Verstappen’s advantage stood at a substantial three-tenths of a second over the two Ferraris, underlining his dominant performance. Fernando Alonso held onto a credible fourth position, just ahead of Sergio Perez. Further down the order, Yuki Tsunoda delivered a strong performance for AlphaTauri, securing the sixth-fastest time, while Nico Hulkenberg’s earlier impressive lap placed him seventh. George Russell rounded out the top eight for Mercedes, with the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris completing the top ten in ninth and tenth respectively. This sole practice session offered invaluable data for all teams as they now face the monumental task of optimizing their cars for qualifying under the floodlights, with very little room for error or further adjustments.
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2023 Qatar Grand Prix first practice result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB19 | 1’27.428 | 26 | |
| 2 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’27.762 | 0.334 | 27 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’27.909 | 0.481 | 27 |
| 4 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’27.919 | 0.491 | 28 |
| 5 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB19 | 1’28.016 | 0.588 | 24 |
| 6 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT | AT04 | 1’28.027 | 0.599 | 28 |
| 7 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’28.171 | 0.743 | 22 |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W14 | 1’28.336 | 0.908 | 28 |
| 9 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’28.380 | 0.952 | 20 |
| 10 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’28.441 | 1.013 | 24 |
| 11 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’28.550 | 1.122 | 25 |
| 12 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’28.590 | 1.162 | 26 |
| 13 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W14 | 1’28.679 | 1.251 | 26 |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’28.690 | 1.262 | 28 |
| 15 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’28.732 | 1.304 | 25 |
| 16 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’28.821 | 1.393 | 23 |
| 17 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’29.041 | 1.613 | 27 |
| 18 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’29.106 | 1.678 | 29 |
| 19 | 40 | Liam Lawson | AlphaTauri-Honda RBPT | AT04 | 1’29.238 | 1.810 | 29 |
| 20 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’29.502 | 2.074 | 26 |
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2023 Qatar Grand Prix
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