Qatar 2025: pre-sprint and qualifying
Incidentally, there’s a 25 lap maximum for stints in Qatar, which means at least two stops due to the 57 laps in the Grand Prix. The 19 lap sprint will be unaffected. This may also affect whether an early (lap 6 or earlier) safety car leads to pit stops or not. The reason is fears over the track chewing up tyres so much they disintegrate.
In solitary practice the McLarens were looking good, as was Alonso. Verstappen’s 6th wasn’t great but I was confident he’d bounce back, and seriously considered tipping Piastri (his odds were 7, boosted to 7.5) but ended up not doing so.
Come sprint qualifying, more woe for Hamilton. He was out in SQ1, ahead only of the Alpines. Also out were Lawson and Stroll, whose team mate would reach SQ3 (as would Hamilton’s).
SQ2 saw the unexpected departure of Hulkenberg as both Saubers formed the meat in a Haas sandwich (Bearman fastest of them). The German had looked very good but failed to hook up a final lap. Out in 11th was Hadjar, due to a lap being deleted. Poor luck for the Frenchman, but a reprieve for Antonelli, who would’ve been out otherwise.
In SQ3 with Piastri back on form it was like the early part of the season with both McLarens and Verstappen in the fight. Or so it seemed… In the end, Piastri got pole ahead of Russell by less than half a tenth. Norris got a bit unlucky as Albon nipped ahead of him prior to the final lap and ended up 3rd. Alonso put in a stonkingly good performance for 4th, but row three is the most interesting. Tsunoda qualified about half a tenth ahead of Verstappen. Blimey.
Antonelli and Sainz share the fourth row, ahead of Leclerc and Albon. Williams though t they’d be rubbish here so a double SQ3 appearance isn’t bad, but for the top Ferrari to be 9th isn’t fantastic. Nor is Sainz outqualifying both cars.
I’m not inclined to bet on the sprint as I think it’ll be largely determined by the start. The 7 on Russell for pole in proper qualifying is tempting, but the times are slightly misleading. Piastri was quickest but also made an error so could’ve been faster, and I’ve already mentioned why Norris was so far off the pace. With clean laps it would’ve been a McLaren 1-2 (and Verstappen may also be involved).
So, no tip today.
Reminder ahead of time: there’s a 25 lap maximum stint on tyres here. Doesn’t affect the 19 lap sprint but it means a minimum of two stops in the 57 lap Grand Prix.
Morris Dancer
In solitary practice the McLarens were looking good, as was Alonso. Verstappen’s 6th wasn’t great but I was confident he’d bounce back, and seriously considered tipping Piastri (his odds were 7, boosted to 7.5) but ended up not doing so.
Come sprint qualifying, more woe for Hamilton. He was out in SQ1, ahead only of the Alpines. Also out were Lawson and Stroll, whose team mate would reach SQ3 (as would Hamilton’s).
SQ2 saw the unexpected departure of Hulkenberg as both Saubers formed the meat in a Haas sandwich (Bearman fastest of them). The German had looked very good but failed to hook up a final lap. Out in 11th was Hadjar, due to a lap being deleted. Poor luck for the Frenchman, but a reprieve for Antonelli, who would’ve been out otherwise.
In SQ3 with Piastri back on form it was like the early part of the season with both McLarens and Verstappen in the fight. Or so it seemed… In the end, Piastri got pole ahead of Russell by less than half a tenth. Norris got a bit unlucky as Albon nipped ahead of him prior to the final lap and ended up 3rd. Alonso put in a stonkingly good performance for 4th, but row three is the most interesting. Tsunoda qualified about half a tenth ahead of Verstappen. Blimey.
Antonelli and Sainz share the fourth row, ahead of Leclerc and Albon. Williams though t they’d be rubbish here so a double SQ3 appearance isn’t bad, but for the top Ferrari to be 9th isn’t fantastic. Nor is Sainz outqualifying both cars.
I’m not inclined to bet on the sprint as I think it’ll be largely determined by the start. The 7 on Russell for pole in proper qualifying is tempting, but the times are slightly misleading. Piastri was quickest but also made an error so could’ve been faster, and I’ve already mentioned why Norris was so far off the pace. With clean laps it would’ve been a McLaren 1-2 (and Verstappen may also be involved).
So, no tip today.
Reminder ahead of time: there’s a 25 lap maximum stint on tyres here. Doesn’t affect the 19 lap sprint but it means a minimum of two stops in the 57 lap Grand Prix.
Morris Dancer
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