Qatar Grand Prix: Live F1 qualifying coverage

Max Verstappen has his eyes on a title this weekend, and it starts with qualifying on Friday

Today, Max Verstappen can inch ever closer to his third-straight Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.

The Red Bull driver just needs to bank three more points over the final six races of the season to put both hands on the trophy, and in all likelihood he accomplishes that feat this weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix. As this is an F1 Sprint weekend, things get cracking on Friday, as the drivers and teams have just one practice session before qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

And we will have all of it covered for you here at SB Nation.

Of course, Verstappen’s quest is not the only storyline facing F1 this week, and over the rest of the season. Teammate Sergio Pérez has his own quest, as he seeks to hold onto second place behind Verstappen in the Drivers’ standings. A two-way fight between Mercedes and Ferrari is underway for second — although Aston Martin and a resurgent McLaren are itching to crash that party — and Logan Sargeant, the lone American driver on the grid, is fighting to keep his seat for next season.

The lone practice session gets underway at 9:25 a.m. Eastern, with qualifying for the Grand Prix slated for 12:55 p.m. Eastern. So come back early and often!

All updates Eastern.

Free Practice 1

Update 10:32: The checkered flag flies, bringing FP1 — and the only practice session of the weekend — to a close.

Update 10:28: The Red Bulls remind everyone that this is still their season. Verstappen rockets to the top of the table with a 1:27.428 lap, almost a half second ahead of Alonso in second. Teammate Sergio Pérez slides into third as well.

Update 10:24: Someone who was able to dial it in on the softs? Nico Hülkenberg at Haas. On a set of the softs he rockets up the timing sheet, into P2 just 0.067 behind Leclerc.

Leclerc posted that time on the mediums, but still a good lap for Hülkenberg.

Another good lap from a driver who really needs one? Logan Sargeant. He jumps into P8 on a set of softs as qualifying simulations get underway.

Update 10:21: Albon is really struggling on the softs, as he slides off the track again and radios in his frustration. Could this foreshadow a very tricky — and chaotic — qualifying session in a few hours?

Update 10:19: Albon is forced to abort that simulated qualifying lap, as he slides off the track at Turn 4.

Update 10:17: Qualifying simulations seem to be underway, as Alexander Albon takes to the track with a set of softs.

Update 10:15: Only a few cars are on the track as the bulk of the drivers are in the garage. Leclerc takes advantage of the free air and jumps to the top on a set of mediums.

The top five with 15 minutes left in FP1:

Leclerc
Piastri
Norris
Alonso
Sainz

The two Ferrari drivers posted those times on mediums, the other three on the hard compound.

Update 10:12: Lando Norris puts together a strong lap of his own, jumping into second behind his teammate.

Update 10:10: Oscar Piastri puts together a tremendous lap, putting himself at the top of the timing sheets with just 20 minutes left in practice.

Update 10:06: Leclerc is back on the track, so things must be okay with his SF23.

As he returns to the track, teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. jumps to P2 behind Fernando Alonso. That leaves Ferrari sitting P2 and P3 right now, although Sainz posted his time on the medium compound, while Alonso and Leclerc posted their times on the hards.

Update 9:55: Concern for Charles Leclerc? Despite the Ferrari driver pushing to the top of the timing sheets around midway through the practice session, he was pulling into the pits when his SF23 made a noise, and the driver asked over the radio “ ... that didn’t sound good. What happened to the engine.”

The team told him they would get back to him.

Update 9:53: The early story from the single practice session?

Dust.

Windy conditions at Lusail International Circuit laid down a layer of dust on the track, which made for a slippery surface as the single practice session began. Slowly, drivers began circling the track and brushing the dust away, and times started to tick down.