Qatar GP classification with Alonso and Sainz, live

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Fernando Alonso will be the last to leave, along with Bottas, as they are still in the pit lane. Hamilton’s lap has been eliminated, something common this Saturday. Same decision for Leclerc. Verstappen leads the session.

SQ2 BEGINS!

Traffic light green again and stopwatch running. This time, ten minutes ahead, also with new medium tyres. Russell comes out on the track, along with Hamilton and Sainz.

CHECKERED FLAG!

SQ1 ends and Stroll, Alonso’s teammate at Aston Martin, is eliminated again! Magnussen, Tsunoda, Albon and Sargeant, the other victims.

With one minute left, Stroll, Magnussen, Lawson, Zhou and Sargeant would be eliminated. Alonso has climbed to fifth position and Sainz, to eighth.

Max Verstappen sets the best time in the first attempts. He is eight tenths ahead of Russell, second. Many pilots still without time and already some laps invalidated.

In the pits, Fernando Alonso, Albon, Bottas, Zhou and Magnussen. We remember that this SQ1 requires the use of new medium tires and only lasts 12 minutes. There are 7 left at this moment.

QUALIFICATION FOR THE SPRINT BEGINS!

Green light in Losail! Stopwatch running in this SQ1. Leclerc, the first to take to the track.

This practice session ends prior to the mini classification. Several drivers have had problems keeping the cars within the new track limits. Some have even had a little scare, like Verstappen. It’s time for action!

EXTRA FREE WORKOUTS

Cars on track! The 10-minute mini free practice session begins. They will serve to test the new limits and adapt to the three new curves. “Familiarization session” they call it.

THE PROBLEMS IN THE WHEELS

Mario Isola (Pirelli): “After yesterday’s free practice, we analyzed several sets of tires and found small cracks on the sidewall. We have notified the FIA, because there were concerns about safety. It is due to the impact with the curbs, for example. “That’s why they have added additional measures such as modifying the track limits. If we continue with the problem after the Sprint, tomorrow we will limit the laps that can be done with a tire.”

Carlos Sainz: “It has been a difficult Qualifying from the beginning, I had problems with the pace. We have to find out what we can do and see how we can come back in the race.”

Fernando Alonso, positive: “(Friday) It has been a good day, the car feels good. It has been races since we were in the first three lines. We are happy, although we started on the dirty side.”

TOMORROW’S GRILL

Yesterday, Friday, the Qualifying of the Qatar GP was held in order to organize the grid for Sunday’s race. Of course, Max Verstappen achieved his umpteenth pole and Fernando Alonso finished in a celebrated fourth place, after the two McLarens were penalized for exceeding the track limits. The worst stopped was Carlos Sainz (with the permission of Checo Pérez, thirteenth), who was left out of Q3 and will start twelfth tomorrow. Russell will be second and Hamilton, third.

THE CALCULATOR

The big question today is, logically, whether Max Verstappen already wins the world championship in the Sprint. What does the Dutch need? The Red Bull driver only needs to score 3 points this Saturday to win the title in Losail. That is, if Max finishes sixth he will be champion of his third World Cup. Everything indicates that he will arrive today (we remember that the Sprint is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.), but if not, he would need at least an eighth position on Sunday to be champion. HERE You can consult all the combinations that would make him champion in Qatar.

20 MINUTE DELAY

We remind you that the Sprint Shootout will begin at 3:20 p.m. Initially, it was scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m., but a series of FIA changes to the circuit have caused the mini-qualification to be delayed. Starting at 3:00 p.m., the drivers will have 10 minutes to test these modifications, related to the track limits in two corners.

QATAR GP

Good afternoon! Welcome everyone to this minute by minute of the Saturday day of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix. Live, we will tell you everything that happens in the Sprint Qualification and in the Sprint race itself, in which Max Verstappen could be proclaimed World Champion. Let’s start!



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