Verstappen Takes it Easy as Leclerc Tops Qatar Free Practice

Fresh off his fourth Formula 1 World Championship win, Max Verstappen took a relaxed approach to the only practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix on Friday. The Red Bull driver settled for tenth place on the ultra-fast Lusail circuit, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets.

Leclerc edged out the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with Carlos Sainz rounding out the top four in the second Ferrari.

Sprint Shootout to Set Stage for Saturday Race

The grid for Saturday’s short race, starting at 3 p.m., will be determined by a sprint shootout later that day at 6:30 p.m. The penultimate Grand Prix of the season is scheduled for Sunday, commencing at 5 p.m. Live coverage will be available on ServusTV and Sky.

Tight Constructor Championship Battle Continues

“Verstappen has been declared four-time world champion since last weekend in Las Vegas,” commentators noted. While Verstappen’s individual title is secured, the battle for the constructors’ championship is heating up. Three teams are still in the chase, with McLaren leading the way.

McLaren is aiming for their first constructors’ championship since 1998 and currently hold a 24-point advantage over Ferrari. Defending champions Red Bull Racing are further back, trailing by 53 points.

Is Verstappen’s performance in ‍the first practice session ⁣indicative of a drop in his motivation after clinching the championship title?

Interviewer: “Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets ⁣in the first practice ⁣session in Qatar, with Verstappen settling for tenth. Do you think ⁤Verstappen’s relaxed approach‌ is a sign of complacency now that​ he’s secured the world championship, or a strategic move for the weekend?”