Summary

  • Sprint qualifying under way - audio commentary at top of page

  • Leclerc tops practice ahead of Norris

  • McLaren could win constructors' title in Qatar

  • Verstappen wrapped up fourth title in Las Vegas

  • Get involved #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Early days of course but the indications there are we could be in for a good battle between Ferrari and McLaren as they look to seal the constructors' championship.

    Was Max Verstappen taking it easy a bit there after getting the job done for the drivers' championship title last weekend? Even if he was, expect him to be firmly in the mix throughout the rest of the weekend.

  2. Practice - the rest

    11) Verstappen

    12) Alonso

    13) Hulkenberg

    14) Lawson

    15) Gasly

    16) Magnussen

    17) Zhou

    18) Perez

    19) Colapinto

    20) Ocon

  3. Practice Top 10

    1) Leclerc

    2) Norris

    3) Piastri

    4) Sainz

    5) Tsunoda

    6) Bottas

    7) Stroll

    8) Russell

    9) Albon

    10) Hamilton

  4. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

    Charles Leclerc finishes quickest in practice for the Qatar Grand Prix with 1:21.953.

  5. Charles Leclerc improves again with 1:21.953. That puts him four tenths quicker than the McLarens.

  6. Into the final few seconds and the Mercedes look to be done with their runs. George Russell has the sixth quickest time and Lewis Hamilton is eighth.

  7. Lando Norris goes second quickest, just a tenth slower than Charles Leclerc. Oscar Piastri is third but there's not much in it between him and his McLaren team-mate.

  8. Lance Stroll goes third quickest on the softs, nine tenths down on Charles Leclerc's time.

    The McLarens looking fast as they come round now.

  9. Max Verstappen is also on softs but he scuppers his fast lap by running wide at the penultimate corner. He's fifth quickest at the moment.

  10. Charles Leclerc, on softs, moves back into P1 with 1:22.242.

  11. A few more drivers emerge on softs. Alexander Albon is the first to set a good time on them as he goes second quickest, four tenths down on Carlos Sainz's leading time.

  12. Franco Colapinto is the first to bolt on softs and head out onto the track. He's currently down in 19th.

  13. It has dropped a bit quiet once more on the track. Looks like teams are preparing for some soft tyre runs for the final 10 minutes of practice.

  14. The work that had been going on on Esteban Ocon's car is over and he looks to be heading out for the final 15 minutes.

  15. It is the F1 photographer's dream now with the sun setting and providing a nice golden glow to the backdrop now.

    .Getty Images
    .Getty Images

  16. Rosanna Tennant
    5 Live F1 reporter in Qatar

    I've just been watching Ocon's mechanics work pretty hard on his car. The team say they are making pretty routine changes. I think they are tinkering with the suspension rods, there are five working on the car. I'll keep you posted!

  17. Esteban Ocon has been in the pits for a little while now. He's still in the car but there's a group/gaggle/flock of mechanics crowded around it.

  18. Ferrari look to be doing well here as they improve the benchmark time, Carlos Sainz going above team-mate Charles Leclerc with 1:23.068.

  19. Pierre Gasly is the latest to run wide, this time going off the track at Turn 13.

    "Can you check the front of the car," he asks over the radio after clattering over the kerb.

  20. Carlos Sainz is up into second, doing a lap on the hard tyres that is a tenth of a second slower than Charles Leclerc's time.