LEWIS HAMILTON will start the Qatar Grand Prix on pole after a superb drive in qualifying.
The Mercedes star was at his best to see off the challenge of both Max Verstappen and teammate Valtteri Bottas.
- Race time: Sunday 2pm
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1/NOW TV
Follow all the latest with our live blog from Qatar below…
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HAMILTON TAKES POLE
He starts P1 in Qatar tomorrow.
VERSTAPPEN HAS TO SETTLE FOR SECOND
Pierre Gasly has a terrifying blowout and stops on the finish line. It means Verstappen slows down, not that he was able to better Hamilton’s time by the looks of the lap.
YELLOW FLAGS
They have slowed the progress of the final runs…
STONKING LAP FROM HAMILTON
That is even quicker, mega job from the Brit.
HAMILTON IS GOING EVEN QUICKER
He is looking to take this pole comfortably.
HAMILTON TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE
Verstappen only has enough for second after their first runs.
The gap is 0.162 seconds. Bottas in third but Gasly in P4 is a mega effort.
Especially when Perez was eliminated from Q2.
Q3 IS GO – THE FIGHT FOR POLE BEGINS
What can Verstappen do to stop this Mercedes pressure?
ELIMINATED FROM Q2
Russell, Riccardo, Leclerc, Stroll and Perez are all knocked out and fail to make it into the top 10.
Both Alpines and both AlphaTauris are in to the top 10.
BLOW FOR RED BULL
Perez is eliminated from Q2. That’s a big shock for the Mexican. It also means it is a big problem for their strategy in the race, as he will not offer any help to Verstappen.
He was also on the soft tyres, which were supposed to the be quickest.
BIG DAY IN QATAR TOMORROW
It marks one year until the FIFA World Cup Finals start in the country.
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino is here today meeting FIA President, Jean Todt.
Q2 IS GO
Busy track already. Hamilton and Bottas are both on track.
Q1 IS DONE – USUAL SUSPECTS GIVEN THE BOOT
Mazepin, Schumacher, Giovinazzi, Latifi and Raikkonen are out. Russell makes it into the Q2 knockout.
LECLERC SCRAPES INTO Q2
The Ferrari man just makes it into the top 15.
EARLY PACE FROM HAMILTON
He leads the session and heads Verstappen. Still a long way to go.
Mazepin, Ocon, Alonso, Schuamcher and Giovinazzi are currently in the drop zone.
GREEN LIGHT – QUALIFYING IS GO IN QATAR
Hamilton verses Verstappen. Take your seats, this is going to be interesting. Merc clearly have had the quicker car all weekend, but were Red Bull keeping their powder dry?
Also, remember these is that threat looming of a Red Bull protests.
BUTTON ON RUSSELL
Jenson Button opened up about George Russell’s performances for Williams.
Button, who is also a senior advisor at Williams, said: “They’ve been struggling with the balance of the car.
“So George has not been able to bring it out on a Saturday, which is a shame.
“Hopefully he will this weekend because it’s a little bit more about qualifying than the race”
BRUNDLE ON RUSSELL
Formula One great Martin Brundle was critical of Williams star George Russell.
Russell has three races left until he teams up with fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
Brundle told Sky Sports: “He’s been a bit anonymous, lately in the races.
“It’s not been going that well”
BRUNDLE REACTS
Formula One legend Martin Brundle discussed Mercedes and Red Bull’s rivalry, which he described as “personal”.
Brundle told Sky Sports: “It’s getting personal, without doubt.
“The pressure is on, on and off the track, there’s pointing fingers all over the place, and I think it’s just a question of how close the drivers are and how close the cars are.
“Unsurprisingly, the tension is rising”
MAZEPIN SITUATION
Haas star Nikita Mazepin’s race was over before it even started.
Mazepin missed Q2 due to a chassis change and his Haas mechanics wheeled him back into the garage
FLAT BUT NOT OUT
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc went spinning during Turn 2.
Leclerc suffered tyre issues but didn’t have any other problems as he finished the third practice session
RESULTS
A strong showing by Mercedes in the third practice run in Qatar.
Valtteri Bottas finished first with team-mate Lewis Hamilton behind him in second.
Red Bull rival Max Verstappen made it third with his partner Sergio Perez in fifth.
Pierre Gassly is fourth in between the Red Bull stars.
More below:
FP3 IS DONE – BOTTAS TOPS THE SESSION
The Finn is 0.078 seconds quicker than Hamilton, it is close.
Verstappen is 0.341 seconds off the pace. Not a huge gap, but again it proves the Mercedes is again the faster car.
Qualifying up next.
SPINS FOR LECLERC AND SCHUMACHER
Some struggling out there in the final few minutes of practice.
THREE WAY FIGHT AT THE TOP
Bottas v Hamilton v Verstappen – this is shaping up to be another fantastic fight.
BOTTAS TOPS THE SESSION
However, here are the fastest sector times. It is close in Doha
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
