Alex Brundle
British racing driver and broadcaster on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

These teams and drivers will be grabbing hold of these ten minutes of extra practice when they've only had that one free practice session this weekend to get their heads around it, they will be grabbing these moments with both hands. For me as a driver I would be getting out there and getting as much work done as possible.

Polystyrene marker boards beware. Logan Sargeant is the latest driver to bash one to shreds at Turn Five.

I think Max Verstappen is leading this little session but as there's no leaderboard for this late change, I could be wrong.

Oh, chequered flag. All over.

Formula 1 first raced in Qatar during the 2021 season but the Lusail circuit has been given a makeover for the 2023 addition with a complete resurface and new kerbs.

With a challenge similar to that of Silverstone or Suzuka, Pirelli has selected the C1 (hard, white), C2 (medium, yellow) and C3 (soft, red).

While the hard tyres were used during Friday's first practice session, we won't be seeing the white rubber in the sprint shootout. That's because teams can only use the medium compound in SQ1 and SQ2 and the soft tyre for the fight for sprint pole.

Image source, Pirelli Motorsport

Lance Stroll also threw his very expensive steering wheel to the ground, which scratched his very expensive Aston Martin.

Where does Stroll go from here? There has yet to be any reaction from the team following the Canadian's outburst. Send us your thoughts using the hashtag #BBCF1.

Image source, Getty Images

Lance Stroll suffered another knockout blow in 2023 when the Aston Martin driver was booted out in the first session of qualifying for the fourth consecutive race and sixth time overall this season.

The TV cameras picked up an incident between Stroll and his performance coach when the Canadian climbed out of the car. Stroll appeared to push his trainer as the pair walked towards the back of the Aston Martin garage.

Stroll did make it in front of the media but he was in no mood to elaborate on his performance.

Interviewer: "Lance, we saw frustration from you on the TV screens. This obviously means so much to you. What are your emotions right now?"

Stroll: "Yeah, ****"

Interviewer: "OK, sorry for the language there. What is not clicking for you behind the wheel at the moment?"

Stroll: "I don't know."

Interviewer: "And how does this change your mindset for the weekend? Is it now a test session? Are you going to go for it in the sprint?"

Stroll: "Keep driving."

Ok, so a 10-minute familiarisation session is now green. Track limits at Turns 12 and 13 have been revised.

Image source, Formula 1

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for a double podium on Sunday. The last time Mercedes celebrated both drivers in the top three was at the Spanish Grand Prix in June.

Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez were the big losers in Q2 and will start outside the top 10. Spaniard Sainz said he struggled with the balance of the Ferrari and added the rear "was very loose."

Perez had his quickest lap time in the session deleted and like Sainz, said balance was an issue. "We had so many issues that I just couldn't fix any of them," said the Mexican. "Every corner was different."

Then there was Lance Stroll...

Image source, Getty Images

George Russell, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri posed for photos and gave interviews after qualifying as the top three drivers but the McLaren driver won't be lining up near the Mercedes and Red Bull on Sunday.

First, his team-mate Lando Norris was demoted from second place after his lap time was deleted in Q3 for exceeding track limits. Russell looked puzzled following his post-qualifying interview as Piastri stepped up to the talk instead. "Where's Lando?!" asked George. "We've lost him!"

A few moments later, as Piastri was giving his thoughts on being promoted from fourth place to third, race control flashed a message to say the Australian driver had also had his time wiped for the same offence as Norris.

Piastri will line up tomorrow in sixth position, while Norris drops all the way down to 10th place.

Verstappen now has Russell for company alongside him on the front row and Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso will move up the order just behind in third and fourth.

Image source, Getty Images

What this mini practice session will look like, we'll find out shortly.

Back to Friday now and he might not need to be on pole position by the time the Qatar Grand Prix gets going on Sunday, but Max Verstappen claimed it anyway, just to make sure.

The Dutchman only needed one run in the final part of qualifying on Friday to book his place at the front of the grid tomorrow with a time of 1:23.778.

However, all the drama was happening behind Verstappen's Red Bull...

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Tyre-life limits have been imposed for this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix because of safety concerns.

Pirelli noticed tyre damage after analysis following qualifying on Friday and have imposed a 20-lap limit for new tyres used in the race, and 22 for used.

Track limits have been revised in Turns 12 and 13 before running resumes.

If the problems recur, drivers will be forced to do at least three pit stops in Sunday's Grand Prix.

They will have a 10-minute session at 14:00 BST on Saturday to adjust to the changes.

The start of qualifying for the sprint race will be postponed until 14:20 as a result.

A statement by governing body the FIA said Pirelli had noticed "a separation in the sidewall" when they checked tyres on Friday.

"It is the view of the FIA and Pirelli that a significant number of additional laps on these tyres could result in circumferential damage of the tyres, leading to failure," it said.

"This issue has likely been caused by the high-frequency interference between the tyre sidewall and the 50mm 'pyramid' kerbs used extensively at this circuit, aggravated by the propensity to ride those kerbs."

Tyres will be analysed after the 19-lap sprint on Saturday to determine whether further changes are needed for Sunday's Grand Prix.

So, why is the sprint shootout now starting 20 minutes later than originally planned? It seems Friday's first practice session uncovered some gremlins for the FIA and tyre manufacturer Pirelli...

Hello, folks. Qualifying for tomorrow's Qatar Grand Prix was sorted on a Friday under the lights, so today is all about the shorter dash for championship points.

The sprint shootout - which sets the grid for today's race - gets under way at 14:20 BST (more on that time change in just a second).

Lights go green for the 19-lap sprint event at 18:00 BST.

Live commentary of both sessions will be online-only and available to listen to at the top of this page using the audio icon.

Rosanna Tennant, Harry Benjamin and British racing driver and broadcaster Alex Brundle will be taking us through today's action.

Is Max Verstappen about to waltz into a Sunday grand prix knowing he has already wrapped up the drivers' world championship on a Saturday night in Qatar?

The Dutchman is on the verge of sealing his third Formula 1 title in a row - if he can sprint away from his nearest rivals.

Image source, Getty Images