Formula 1 Racing

F1 Live: 2024 Qatar Grand Prix

George Russell, Mercedes, Losail International Circuit, 2024

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L26 Norris now sets the fastest lap and gets Verstappen’s lead down to 1.6 seconds.

Verstappen and Norris continue to trade fastest laps but the Red Bull driver has edged his lead just up to two seconds.

L24 Russell pits but it doesn’t go well for Mercedes, he’s stationary for seven seconds as the team struggle with his right-rear and he comes out in traffic.

L20 Verstappen is told to reduce his tyre management and duly sets the fastest lap so far, 1’24.896. The gap between him and Norris is 1.8 seconds, it’s been hovering around that area for several laps.

Leclerc: “Let’s check pressures, tyre pressures. The way I’m driving punctures are likely.”

Piastri gets an armful of opposite lock in the final corner and slides onto the run-off. Norris was just under a tenth of a second faster than Verstappen and is now 1.8s behind.

L16 Norris produces the fastest lap but Verstappen is responding. There’s just under two seconds between them.

L15 Tsunoda loses another place, this time to Zhou, who moves into 12th. Russell has now fallen almost five seconds off Verstappen.

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Hamilton gets a five-second time penalty for his jump start. Haas tell Magnussen his move is under investigation though race control have only noted it so far. Alonso has been cleared for unsafely rejoining the track.

The stewards have noted Magnussen and Tsunoda for an incident after the Haas driver passed the RB having been forced off the track at the exit of turn one.

Alonso was already on eight penalty points heading into this race, so if he does get penalised for unsafely rejoining the track he could end up close to a ban.

L12 Verstappen is now 1.9s ahead of Norris, Russell 1.8s behind with Piastri for company, seven-tenths off his tail.

The stewards are being kept very busy in this race. Lawson now has a 10-second time penalty for tangling with Bottas.

L11 Magnussen makes a move stick on Tsunoda for ninth place despite being forced off by the RB driver at the exit of turn one.

Alonso is fuming over his lack of straight-line speed. He’s also been noted for unsafely rejoining the track at turn 14. Meanwhile Hamilton has been noted for a false start.

Vizard: “You’ve got Lawson close behind.” Stroll:…

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