F1 LIVE | Follow qualifying for the Qatar GP sprint

F1 Live | Sprint qualifying in Qatar

What did FP1 show us? 

Charles Leclerc topped the first and only free practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both threatened to trouble Leclerc's time but couldn't beat it. They got within two-tenths. Ferrari and McLaren are set to engage in a duel for the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship over the next two race weekends.

Carlos Sainz finished fourth fastest, with Yuki Tsunoda and Valtteri Bottas rounding out the top six. Last week's winner, George Russell, finished 8th. World Champion Max Verstappen finished 11th fastest in Qatar, one place behind Lewis Hamilton. Sergio Perez finished 18th fastest.

Leclerc and Sainz continued to push on the hard tyres, while others were happy to continue using mediums. The Spanish driver moved up to P2 with 25 minutes left on the clock and soon after took P1 from his teammate. Norris moved up to P3, and Sergio Perez was impressed. The Red Bull driver stated over the radio: "That McLaren is flying". Red Bull are trying to hunt down McLaren in the Constructors' Championship, but face an uphill battle with Ferrari also in the fight during the final two weekends of the season.

Before appearing on the soft tyres, Ferrari completed a lap on the medium tyres to put them through a heat cycle in preparation for later in the weekend. Williams werre the first to use the soft tyres in anger. Colapinto made an error in the middle sector, but Alex Albon was able to move up to P3. The big names jumped back up the order, but it was once again Ferrari who set the pace.