P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen leads the way in Qatar GP FP1 as title looms
Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the first practice session at the Qatar Grand Prix, possibly setting the stage for him to secure the world championship. The session was unpredictable due to different strategies and the use of different tires. Verstappen went fastest using soft tires, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc falling short on the same tires. Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, Yuki Tsunoda, and Nico Hulkenberg also performed well. However, the session was challenging due to visibility issues caused by the setting sun and low-grip conditions due to a new asphalt surface. Lap times were four seconds slower than in the previous year, and strong winds caused difficulties with car stability. Verstappen had a few incidents, including a near-spin and colliding with a brake marker board. Overall, teams now need to finalize their setups for the weekend ahead of qualifying.
Source: Racer
