No Formula 1 star has captured more pole positions than four-time champion Max Verstappen. Whether he gets the best start in Qatar can be tracked live here in the SPEEDWEEK.com ticker.
In Qatar, the GP stars are not only participating in the 23rd annual World Championship for the first time in the history of Formula 1. They are also advancing to the final weekend of the racing season. And that means they had just one hour of practice to prepare for the time trial, preparing the starting grid for Saturday’s mini race.
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc was very fast in this one. Monegasse remained fastest with 1:21.953 minutes. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were second and third, more than four-tenths of a second behind Carlos Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda. Champion Max Verstappen was satisfied with the eleventh fastest lap time. As always, training sessions should be enjoyed with caution.
On paper, the four-time world champion has a good chance of achieving the fastest time. Of the current GP stars, none have been to the races as often as the Dutchman. He started from first place in 9 of the 17 races. McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri were each lucky to start the race from first place on the grid twice. Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen and Leclerc each had a good starting position.
Whether the newly crowned champion wins in qualifying for the final race of the season or whether a new name joins the race’s pole vaulters can be followed live right here at the SPEEDWEEK.com ticker.
