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F1: #Qatar Grand Prix LIVE UPDATES: Lewis Hamilton to cash in on Verstappen grid penalty
F1: Qatar Grand Prix LIVE UPDATES: Lewis Hamilton to cash in on Verstappen grid penalty
CityNews Nigeria brings you F1 Qatar Grand Prix LIVE UPDATES as Sir Lewis Hamilton will hope to cash in on Verstappen grid penalty.
Follow all the action from the Qatar Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton starts on pole ahead of Max Verstappen as the Formula One season approaches a thrilling climax.
In search of a record-breaking eighth world championship, Hamilton trails Verstappen by 14 points in the drivers’ standings with just three races remaining of the season. However, after his stunning victory in Brazil, where Hamilton came from tenth on the grid to take victory, the momentum is firmly with the Mercedes driver. He followed up that performance with a dominant display in qualifying on Saturday, finishing four-tenths quicker than his title rival to take pole.
Overtaking is expected to be tricky on the Losail circuit, with teams likely to take a one-stop strategy, meaning there will be more pressure than ever on the approach into turn one. Verstappen escaped punishment after appearing to run Hamilton off the track in Brazil and the Briton admitted there was still a lack of clarity over the incident. “It’s not clear, every driver except for Max was asking for clarity,” he said. “It’s still not clear what the limits of the track are, it’s clearly not the white line any more when overtaking, so we just go for it. We just ask for consistency so, if it’s the same as the last race, then it should be the same for all of us.” Follow all the latest updates below:
Hamilton reacts to Verstappen penalty
Lewis Hamilton has reacted to the stewards’ decision to penalise Max Verstappen with a five-place grid penalty for ignoring yellow flags.
“My only reaction is that consistency is key,” the seven-time world champion said. “In Austria I got a three-place penalty for a flag I didn’t see. It’s good that they stick to the book. We’ve just got to focus on my job today.”
Sainz escapes penalty
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will start from P5 after he escaped a grid penalty despite being under investigation for the same offence as Valtteri Bottas.
The 27-year-old qualified seventh but will move up thanks to the penalties for Bottas and Verstappen. The Spaniard lifted off the accelerator before the finish line under the yellow flags yesterday, which is why he avoided punishment.
Horner furious with Verstappen penalty
Red Bull team principal is dumbfounded and seething about Max Verstappen’s late grid penalty at Losail.
“We’re really struggling to understand it,” he told Sky Sports F1. “It looks like a complete balls-up. Unfortunately there’s a yellow flag and Max just didn’t see it. I think it’s just a road marshal that has stuck a flag out, he’s not been instructed to by the FIA and they need to have control of their marshals. We’re not starting P7 at a track you can’t overtake at, that’s massive for the championship.”
Gasly and Alonso have massive role to play off the start
The penalties for Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas means that Pierre Gasly is promoted to P2 in his Alpha Tauri, while Fernando Alonso will start third for Alpine.
This presents a wild different challenge for Lewis Hamilton on pole. Yes, neither of those cars are as fast as the Mercedes or Red Bull, but Gasly and Alonso are two drivers who will smell a shot at glory and have precious little to lose.
The Frenchman and the Spaniard are great wheel-to-wheel racers and this will be far from an easy start for the seven-time world champion.
Bottas given three-place penalty too
Valtteri Bottas has also been given a penalty before the start of the race, hut the Finn’s is for three rather than five places.
The difference is that Bottas’ offence came during a period where a single yellow flag was waving, while for Verstappen there were double flags.
This massively affects the title race.
Verstappen given grid penalty
Max Verstappen has been given a five-place grid penalty by the stewards in Qatar!
Verstappen still awaiting penalty decision
A reminder that the stewards still haven’t revealed whether Max Verstappen will be given a grid penalty before this afternoon’s Qatar Grand Prix gets underway in 90 minutes.
The Dutchman set his best Q3 time at the end of yesterday’s session, despite double-yellow flags being waved due to Pierre Gasly’s puncture in the Alpha Tauri.
Failing to respect double yellow flags often results in a five-place grid penalty.
Mercedes and Red Bull rivalry bitterness increases
Max Verstappen’s overly aggressive defence against Lewis Hamilton at Interlagos last weekend, and the lack of punishment following a right to review hearing with the FIA in Qatar this week, has hugely increased the tension between the Mercedes and Red Bull teams and respective team bosses Toto Wolff and Christian Horner.
“We wanted to trigger a discussion around it because it will probably be a theme in the next few races,” Wolff said on the hearing itself. “We didn’t really think it would go any further. You fight for every single point, we don’t expect to gain anything to be honest, from the right of review, it is more about the principle and philosophy.” But Horner said, “(It is) Obviously the right decision as it would open Pandora’s Box.”
On his feeling about Wolff, Horner was emphatic: “There is no relationship. There is competition,” he said.
“We have worked hard to get into this position, this is the first time they have been challenged and it is interesting to see how people react when they are challenged – it is by far the most politically that we have been involved with in the sport. I don’t need to go to dinner with Toto, I don’t need to kiss his a**e or anything like that.”
Full story:
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F1 Qatar GP Race Live Coverage – Live text commentary and updates
This is the start of our Qatar Grand Prix live blog, with the most recent entries the ones nearest the top. So, follow along with us as we find out if Verstappen or Hamilton will come out on top in the desert!
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
The VSC is withdrawn too late for Hamilton to set a fast lap but he cuts the deficit to Verstappen again with victory in Qatar. Verstappen takes second and the extra point for fastest lap while Alonso earns a podium for Alpine! Ferrari gain more points on McLaren after Norris’ late puncture and pit stop.
Lap 55: Virtual safety car
A weird decision from the FIA as Latifi’s well out of the way Williams starts to be moved unnecessarily. That is a relief for Alpine and Alonso who are on for a brilliant podium. Verstappen takes a free pit stop for soft tyres to try and set the fastest lap but if this VSC doesn’t end, then Verstappen has the fastest lap already.
Lap 52: Latifi puncture
A second Williams puncture in three laps as Latifi’s front left goes down on the main straight. Major worry for Alpine with Alonso still out on hard tyres which have been going off like fireworks at the end of this race. Latifi finds a service road to retire in as Ocon, Stroll, Sainz and Leclerc in a train for fifth.
Lap 50: Norris pits, Russell puncture, Bottas retires
A really strange decision from McLaren to pit with so few laps left but George Russell gets a puncture in the Williams! Maybe McLaren are expecting lots of tyre problems late on but they’ve dropped behind both Ferrari’s as well as Vettel and Gasly. Perez could still get that podium as Alpine tell Alonso to stay off high speed kerbs and Bottas retires his Mercedes from outside the point scorers.
Lap 47: Ocon tried, but failed
Perez looked to have made an easy move down the main straight but Ocon fought back into turn four. The Red Bull wouldn’t be denied however and he did pass Ocon at the first attempt. Norris is next on the agenda for Perez but he has to close eight seconds to the Brit and a further eight to Alonso to get back onto the podium, with less than ten laps to go.
Lap 45: Defend like a lion, Esteban
Fernando Alonso is well aware that Sergio Perez is coming as he radios his team to tell Esteban Ocon to defend ‘like a lion’ from the Red Bull. It might not be that simple though as the DRS has proved effective down the main straight. Perez has to pass Stroll before he can look at Ocon who is eight seconds behind Norris in fourth.
Lap 42: Verstappen pits
With a 54 second gap behind him, Verstappen can pit and maintain his second place. Hamilton responds the next lap as we all assumed he would as Perez also pits but drops down to seventh, but those ahead may have to pit again still. Bottas is recovering from his puncture as he passes Ricciardo for 12th.
Lap 40: Vibrating Verstappen
Concern for Red Bull as Max Verstappen announces he has vibrations in his car which will send Christian Horner’s leg twitching afte Bottas puncture. Hamilton also believes he has a vibration but the AWS graphics think his tyres are still in good nick.
Lap 36: Gasly pits again
As expected, Gasly has pitted for a second time which releases Norris who had caught the Frenchman very quickly over the last handful of laps. Hamilton meanwhile could well lap the whole field on this pace, he’s just been let through by Leclerc and he’s rapidly catching Sainz too.
Lap 33: Puncture for Bottas
Nightmare for Mercedes as Bottas develops a puncture on his front left! He can’t turn into turn seven and just about makes it out of the gravel. He’s passed by Perez, Alonso, Gasly and Norris on track as he drops all the way down to 14th behind Daniel Ricciardo. That could set alarm bells across the pit lane as the race nears its end.
Lap 29: Perez gets Alonso
A super battle through the first sector sees Sergio Perez finally pass Fernando Alonso but he has to start setting fast laps to take third from Bottas who is yet to stop but nearly 20 seconds clear. AlphaTauri tell Gasly that a one-stop is available despite pitting way back on lap 14.
Lap 27: Nearly contact
Charles Leclerc very nearly ended his and Alonso‘s race after a very, very late move under braking saw the Ferrari lock up and lose the place. He also saw Perez‘ Red Bull go by after a dismal lap. The team then double stack in good style as they return to the track 10th and 13th, Sainz the first of the duo.
Lap 26: Norris finally pits
Norris stayed out on the soft tyres for 25 laps but eventually he could go no further. He switches to the hard tyres and is surely now going to the end as he emerges behind Gasly who he passed in the early stages but the Frenchman has to pit again. Ferrari meanwhile are still out on the medium tyres in fourth and fifth in the battle for third in the constructors.
Lap 23: Bottas gets Norris
He took a few laps looking at the rear of Norris‘ McLaren but Bottas finally makes his move on the Brit who is still on his starting set of softs. Perez gets ahead of Vettel who is yet to stop in the same fashion at turn one. Alonso has pitted from third after a superb first stint and he comes out ahead of Ricciardo.
Lap 20: Perez pits too
It’s a 2.7 second stop for the Mexican who switches to hard tyres and comes out down in 12th behind Vettel. Mercedes seem to be going long with Bottas to try and find an advantage over Red Bull. Bottas has to get past Norris for the strategy to work though as he’s within DRS of the McLaren.
Lap 19: Early stop for Verstappen, Hamilton responds
Hamilton has been lighting up the timing screens and Verstappen has had no answer for his title rival. So Red Bull bring the Dutchman in for a set of hard tyres and he just about comes out ahead of Alonso. Hamilton comes in next time by and a clean stop sees the Brit comfortably clear in the lead.
Lap 29: Perez gets Alonso
A super battle through the first sector sees Sergio Perez finally pass Fernando Alonso but he has to start setting fast laps to take third from Bottas who is yet to stop but nearly 20 seconds clear. AlphaTauri tell Gasly that a one-stop is available despite pitting way back on lap 14.
Lap 27: Nearly contact
Charles Leclerc very nearly ended his and Alonso‘s race after a very, very late move under braking saw the Ferrari lock up and lose the place. He also saw Perez‘ Red Bull go by after a dismal lap. The team then double stack in good style as they return to the track 10th and 13th, Sainz the first of the duo.
Lap 26: Norris finally pits
Norris stayed out on the soft tyres for 25 laps but eventually he could go no further. He switches to the hard tyres and is surely now going to the end as he emerges behind Gasly who he passed in the early stages but the Frenchman has to pit again. Ferrari meanwhile are still out on the medium tyres in fourth and fifth in the battle for third in the constructors.
Lap 23: Bottas gets Norris
He took a few laps looking at the rear of Norris‘ McLaren but Bottas finally makes his move on the Brit who is still on his starting set of softs. Perez gets ahead of Vettel who is yet to stop in the same fashion at turn one. Alonso has pitted from third after a superb first stint and he comes out ahead of Ricciardo.
Lap 20: Perez pits too
It’s a 2.7 second stop for the Mexican who switches to hard tyres and comes out down in 12th behind Vettel. Mercedes seem to be going long with Bottas to try and find an advantage over Red Bull. Bottas has to get past Norris for the strategy to work though as he’s within DRS of the McLaren.
Lap 19: Early stop for Verstappen, Hamilton responds
Hamilton has been lighting up the timing screens and Verstappen has had no answer for his title rival. So Red Bull bring the Dutchman in for a set of hard tyres and he just about comes out ahead of Alonso. Hamilton comes in next time by and a clean stop sees the Brit comfortably clear in the lead.
Lap 17: Perez passes Norris
The Red Bulls have looked very racy today as Perez drives by Norris down the main straight for fourth and it looked as if Norris was happy to let the Mexican by. McLaren will know they haven’t got the pace to beat Red Bull or Mercedes without intervention so he is focused on staying consistent with Alonso the main target. Bottas has passed Ocon as well for sixth as the soft tyres begin to go off the cliff for those who started on them.
Lap 14: Gasly pits
AlphaTauri seem to have committed to the two-stop with both drivers in early. It’s a big time delta though as he emerges behind Mazepin in 18th. A big gap is needed to keep your position but the leaders are nearly a pit stop clear of Alonso in third. Bottas has finally passed Sainz for seventh as Hamilton sets the fastest lap. He’s nearly seven seconds clear of Verstappen.
Lap 12: Norris passes Gasly
Two laps after he first tried it, Norris passes Gasly into turn one and takes fourth on the road. Gasly may be told to let the senior Red Bull of Perez through fairly soon as the Mexican has looked supremely quick on the mediums so far today. That battle is some three seconds off Alonso in third as Perez passes Gasly down the main straight next lap by.
Lap 10: Tsunoda first to pit
An early first pit stop of the day as Tsunoda dives into the lane after losing out to Bottas who has now dispatched of Stroll for ninth. Norris tried to pass Gasly into turn one but had to back out of the move and Perez is right on the rear of the McLaren as a result. The leaders have now pulled the trigger and are 20 seconds ahead of Alonso in third.
Lap 9: Bottas into the points
It’s not been the day Valtteri Bottas wanted so far, as he’s been stuck behind Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll since the start but a rallying call from Toto Wolff sees the Finn pass Tsunoda as Stroll also gets the AlphaTauri round the outside. Perez has charged forward to sixth past Ocon and he’s now hunting down Norris and Gasly who are close for fourth.
Lap 7: Poor starts
While Verstappen has enjoyed a tremendous opening seven laps, it’s not been so fruitful for Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel who have lost places and currently run 16th and 17th respectively, stuck in a DRS train behind George Russell‘s Williams which has the same Mercedes power unit as their cars. Perez is trying to make places after his poor qualifying. He’s passed Tsunoda and almost got Sainz too but a snap of oversteer put pay to that move, for now.
Lap 4: Verstappen into second
Pierre Gasly makes an error at the final corner and that allows Max Verstappen to breeze by the AlphaTauri and hunt down Alonso‘s Alpine. The Spanish double world champion hasn’t been dramatically dropped by Hamilton yet but as soon as Verstappen makes the move, the pace will ramp up, and it does. Verstappen passes Alonso one lap later and he’s now got just Hamilton ahead.
Lap 1: Hamilton leads, Verstappen fourth
The first ever Qatar Grand Prix is underway and it’s a tough start for those on the dirty side of the grid. Hamilton holds onto the lead and begins to build a lead as Alonso passes Gasly. Verstappen makes a super start and is up to fourth already, ahead of Lando Norris with Ocon up to sixth and Bottas down to 11th behind Perez.
14:00 GMT: Formation lap
One final practice start and a last look at conditions as the formation lap begins. The Losail circuit produced a fantastic spectacle in qualifying but there are fears that the fast corners could hamper the ability to race and track position could be vital, despite a two-stop strategy being the preferred. Don’t be surprised to see those further down gamble on a one-stop in an attempt to score points.
13:40 GMT: Late grid changes
There’s confusion on the grid as both Ferrari and Mercedes head to the fifth grid slot expecting their car to start there. The provisional grid had Valtteri Bottas there after his penalty but an amendment from the FIA confirms Carlos Sainz will start fifth instead and the Mercedes mechanics have to awkwardly move their tool kits over to the other side of the grid. Further down the order, Charles Leclerc has a new chassis in place but keeps his 13th place while Nikita Mazepin will get his first long run of the weekend after missing both second and third practice in his Haas.
13:20 GMT: Pit lane open
The fastest four-wheeled machines on the planet are making their way to the grid for today’s Qatar Grand Prix and those starting in even-numbered positions will have a distinct disadvantage off the line. Such is the nature of racing in the desert, sand is often blown onto the circuit and we saw plenty of it being kicked up off track during practice but on the start/finish straight, the dust remains off line which will hamper the likes of Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris who start second and fourth respectively.
13:00 GMT: Alonso: Nothing to lose
One hour to race start in the desert and the grid penalties for Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas mean Fernando Alonso will start third in his Alpine. The Spaniard has always been a fast starter and he’s on the clean side of the grid with his soft tyres so he fancies his chances of leading this race come turn one. He states on Sky Sports he has nothing to lose today.
12:25 GMT: Grid penalties for Verstappen and Bottas!
There is drama before the cars even take to the grid, as Max Verstappen has been handed a five-place grid penalty and Valtteri Bottas has been given a three-place penalty. This is for not respecting yellow flags during qualifying and means that Pierre Gasly – whose puncture, ironically, brought out the yellow flags – starts on the front row.
11:45 GMT: Hamilton delighted about gap to Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton didn’t just take pole position on Saturday. He stormed to the front of the grid, with his time of 1:20.827 a lot quicker than Max Verstappen – 0.455 seconds quicker to be precise. “I definitely wasn’t expecting to have as big a gap as that,” Hamilton said afterwards.
11:20 GMT: What is the Qatar GP starting grid?
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