P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen leads Qatar practice amid tough track conditions
Max Verstappen set the fastest lap time in the only practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix, followed by Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Verstappen’s best lap came late in the session when his Red Bull team switched to the Soft tire. Sergio Perez made a mistake in the first sector and finished fifth, over half a second behind his teammate. Ferrari drivers Sainz and Leclerc also switched to the Soft tire near the end of the session, with Sainz finishing 0.334s behind Verstappen. The newly resurfaced Lusail circuit, combined with windy conditions and sandy track, made it challenging for the drivers, with lap times slower than last year’s pole lap. Some drivers experienced oversteer moments and went off track, including Verstappen, who had multiple incidents. Alex Albon also struggled with oversteer and went off track at Turn 4. Qualifying times are expected to be crucial due to the evolving track conditions.
Source: RacingNews 365
