Can world champion Lewis Hamilton continue to catch up in Qatar?
Experience the Formula 1 race in Qatar live in the ticker.
Qatar Grand Prix: the starting grid
1 Hamilton | 2 Verstappen | 3 Bottas | 4 gasly |
5 Alonso | 6 Norris | 7 Sainz | 8 Tsunoda |
9 Ocon | 10 Vettel | 11 Perez | 12 stroll |
13 Leclerc | 14 Ricciardo | 15 Russell | 16 Raikkones |
17 latifi | 18 Giovinazzi | 19 Schumacher | 20 masepin |
UPDATE HERE
Preliminary report: Hamilton on pole, Verstappen faces a penalty in Qatar
Doha - The record world champion is on top again! Lewis Hamilton waved into the crowd with a smile, his black racing suit gleaming in the floodlights: For the Briton, in the most important phase of the season, everything is suddenly going according to plan again. One week after the big win in Brazil, he will start from pole position in the first Formula 1 race * in Qatar on Sunday (from 3 p.m. here in the live ticker and in the live stream *).
The situation is different with World Cup leader Max Verstappen (332.5 points compared to Hamilton's 318.5).
The pressure on the Dutchman is growing - especially since Verstappen now has to fear a punishment.
The Red Bull driver qualified for second place, but has to answer to the stewards on Sunday afternoon (11.00 a.m. CET): He is said to have not slowed down sufficiently in qualifying under the yellow flag.
For a similar offense, Sebastian Vettel had already received a five-place penalty for the starting grid this season.
That would be a major setback for Verstappen.
Hamilton's team-mate Bottas is also being investigated
At least some consolation for Verstappen: Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who took third place on the grid, is being investigated for the same allegation.
If the Finn is also punished, he would not stand as a buffer between the two World Cup rivals.
"I sat with the team yesterday until midnight, we found a lot where I could improve," said Hamilton after qualifying.
He wasn't up to speed in free practice: "I didn't feel good on Thursday and Friday."
Verstappen has a lot to lose: the lead over Hamilton in the World Cup is only 14 points, in the three remaining races the Englishman can still intercept him on his own.
Formula 1: Course in Qatar "great unknowns for all of us"
It is the first time that Formula 1 is a guest in Qatar, the track was only added to the calendar for Australia at short notice.
The course, actually designed for motorcycling, was alien to teams and drivers. "It's a great unknown for all of us," said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner last.
Some drivers did not even have the opportunity to get to know the route in the simulator in advance.
The balance of power was therefore uncertain when the teams first came to the Losail Circuit near Doha before the weekend.
Mercedes, which had impressed with high speeds on the straights last time Hamilton won in Brazil, seemed to have an advantage, however, as suggested by the first training sessions on Friday and Saturday.
This impression continued in qualifying - however, Verstappen got a lot out of the Red Bull.
His team-mate Sergio Perez failed to make it into the last section in eleventh place, but the Dutchman kept putting pressure on Mercedes.
In the end it was enough to at least get between the Silver Arrows.
Vettel starts in 10th place - Mick Schumacher in 19th place
A possible improvement was no longer possible for Verstappen on the last lap: Yuki Tsunoda drove hard over the curbs, a tire burst on the Japanese’s AlphaTauri, and the following drivers had to brake.
Vettel could not use his last lap either.
"That's a shame. It was okay anyway, I'm satisfied," said Vettel: "We landed in front of a Red Bull, a Ferrari and a McLaren."
The ex-world champion starts from tenth place, Mick Schumacher from 19th place.
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