F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Sprint qualifying schedule, start time and practice results
F1 live updates from practice at the Lusail International Circuit as Ferrari look to chase down McLaren
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Your support makes all the difference.F1 next heads to Lusail for the Qatar Grand Prix and the final sprint weekend of the 2024 season.
Max Verstappen secured the drivers’ world championship at the last race in Las Vegas, his fourth in a row, with Lando Norris unable to catch him at the two remaining rounds.
The main battle is now for the constructors’ championship. Leaders McLaren are just 24 points ahead of Ferrari, with Red Bull a further 29 points back.
Verstappen won last year’s race at the Lusail International Circuit, though Oscar Piastri did win the sprint race. This weekend will also be Lewis Hamilton’s penultimate race weekend for Mercedes.
Follow live updates from the Qatar Grand Prix:
When is the Qatar Grand Prix?
All times GMT
Friday 29 November
- Sprint qualifying: 5:30pm
Saturday 30 November
- Sprint race: 2pm
- Qualifying: 6pm
Sunday 1 December
- Race: 4pm
Lando Norris responds to Max Verstappen F1 title dig:
Verstappen told sections of the media after the race in Vegas that he would have won the 2024 title “even earlier” in a McLaren – and at “pretty much the same” time in a Ferrari. Red Bull are currently third in the constructors’ championship.
Yet Norris, when asked about Verstappen’s statement in Qatar, sharply rebuked: “He should start doing comedy or something. He can say whatever he wants.
“Of course, I completely disagree, as I would. He’s good, but, yeah, it’s not true.”
F1 signs new long-term contract with Monza for the Italian Grand Prix
F1 has signed a new long-term contract with Monza, keeping the famous circuit on the calendar until 2031.
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza track, 12 miles north of central Milan, has hosted the Italian Grand Prix every year bar one since the inception of the Formula One world championship in 1950.
Full story:
F1 signs new long-term contract with Monza for the Italian Grand Prix
Monza’s future has been in doubt with their old deal expiring after the 2025 F1 season
What is the state of play in the Constructors’ Championship?
1. McLaren - 608 points
2. Ferrari - 584 points
3. Red Bull Racing - 555 points
4. Mercedes - 425 points
5. Aston Martin - 86 points
6. Alpine - 49 points
7. Haas - 46 points
8. RB - 46 points
9. Williams - 17 points
10. Sauber - 0 points
Ferrari ‘really interested’ in signing current F1 driver for 2025 season
Zhou Guanyu says Ferrari are “really interested” in signing him up as a reserve driver for the 2025 season.
Ferrari have already confirmed their driver line-up for next year, with Lewis Hamilton replacing Carlos Sainz as Charles Leclerc’s teammate.
Chinese driver Zhou has been dropped by Sauber for 2025 after three years with the team. Both Zhou and Valtteri Bottas are departing, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto replacing them.
Full story below:
Ferrari ‘really interested’ in signing current F1 driver for 2025 season
Ferrari have already announced their 2025 driver line-up of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Charles Leclerc quickest in FP1!
Leclerc sets a 1:21:953 on soft tyres and is quickest by four-tenths to Lando Norris in second!
3-10: Piastri, Sainz, Tsunoda, Bottas, Stroll, Russell, Albon, Hamilton
Verstappen only P11!
Seems like it’s advantage Ferrari heading into sprint qualifying!
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Charles Leclerc still in P1!
It’s no longer a Ferrari one-two, though, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in second and third - splitting the Ferraris.
5-10: Stroll, Russell, Albon, Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso
Final few laps coming in now...
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Qualifying simulations coming right up!
Alex Albon the first driver out there on the soft tyres for Williams, and sets a time quick enough for P3!
10:00 to go!
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