Summary

  • Norris on sprint pole; Russell 2nd; Piastri 3rd

  • Perez out in first session

  • Alonso out in second session

  • 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. Marc Priestley
    Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It looks like it is between McLaren and Ferrari. McLaren have that lead at the moment with a car that has been developed at such an extraordinary rate in the second half of the season. But Ferrari are the team in the ascendency in recent rounds. Charles Leclerc is looking the quickest of the four drivers so far.

  2. 'Excitement building'

    Rosanna Tennant
    5 Live F1 reporter in Qatar

    The excitement is building because on a sprint weekend everything ramps up so quickly, doesn't it?

    It is a nice atmosphere, very buzzy here in the paddock.

  3. Sprint qualifying sets the grid for the shorter sprint race that takes place at 14:00 UK time on Saturday, before qualifying for the grand prix at 18:00.

    The sprint shootout has three sessions - like normal qualifying - with the slowest five cars eliminated at the end of the first two. These sessions last just 12, 10 and eight minutes, respectively. The three sessions in a standard qualifying run for 18, 15 and 12 minutes.

    In the sprint race, the top eight finishers score points, from eight for first place down to one for eighth.

    Sprint qualifying gets under way at 17:30 GMT and you can listen to live commentary here in this page or on BBC Sounds from now.

  4. Audi to sell a stake of F1 team to Qatar fund

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent

    .Getty Images

    Some news from between the sessions - Audi is to sell a stake in its Formula 1 entry to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, QIA.

    A statement from the German car company said the Gulf state would buy a “significant minority” in the team, which is entering F1 in 2026.

    The deal will be completed next year, after Audi has taken full ownership of the Sauber team that is the basis for its entry.

    Qatar is the third largest shareholder in the Volkswagen Group, Audi’s parent company.

    A statement from Audi said Qatar’s investment would “provide a substantial capital injection and pave the way for increasing infrastructure and team buildout, positioning the team for long-term success in Formula 1”.

    The deal is said not to be related to financial problems being suffered by the wider Audi company.

    Read more here.

  5. How it looks in drivers’ championship

    .

    There are 103 points left to win in the constructors' championship, with 44 points available in Qatar and then season-finale in Abu Dhabi, plus a further 15 up for grabs in the sprint this weekend.

    McLaren currently lead Ferrari by 24 with Red Bull 29 further back.

    After this weekend there will be just 44 points left up for grabs, meaning to win the constructors' in Qatar McLaren must out-score Ferrari by a total of 21 points.

    That would give McLaren an unassailable lead of 45 points.

  6. 'We're here to win world championships'

    We're here to win world championships - McLaren's Brown

    McLaren chief executive officer Zak Brown tells BBC Sport's Natalie Pirks that "they are here to win world championships".

    It has been 26 years since the team last won the drivers' championship, and they are hoping to end that long wait this season.

  7. Hello and welcome back!

    The solitary practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix hinted at a battle between Ferrari and McLaren - with both teams going for the constructors' championship.

    Crucial points for that can be taken in the Sprint race, which takes place tomorrow, but qualifying for it is coming up in 15 minutes...

    .Getty Images

  8. Right, we'll pause things here for now but we'll be back later this afternoon for build up to Sprint qualifying, which takes place at 17:30 GMT.

  9. Practice top 10 times

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  10. 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.

  11. Practice - the rest

    11) Verstappen

    12) Alonso

    13) Hulkenberg

    14) Lawson

    15) Gasly

    16) Magnussen

    17) Zhou

    18) Perez

    19) Colapinto

    20) Ocon

  12. Practice Top 10

    1) Leclerc

    2) Norris

    3) Piastri

    4) Sainz

    5) Tsunoda

    6) Bottas

    7) Stroll

    8) Russell

    9) Albon

    10) Hamilton

  13. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

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

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

  15. 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.

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

  18. 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.

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

  20. 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.