P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari upended its own expectations by topping the only F1 practice session of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend with Charles Leclerc
In the Qatar Grand Prix practice session, Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari a boost by dominating with a commanding performance. Ferrari had downplayed expectations due to the high-speed nature of the track favoring McLaren and Mercedes. Despite concerns, Ferrari was already 1-2 with Leclerc and Sainz before qualifying simulations. Leclerc’s final lap put him ahead by 0.425s, with Norris in second. Red Bull struggled, with Verstappen in 11th and Perez in 18th, while Mercedes had a more muted session in 8th and 10th. Underdogs like Bottas, Tsunoda, and Stroll impressed, setting the stage for sprint qualifying under the floodlights.
