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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LEWIS HAMILTON WINS IN QATAR
He slices Verstappen’s lead in the championship to just EIGHT points with two races to go.
This is going down to the wire as Verstappen finishes second.
Fernando Alonso first podium since the 2014 Hungarian GP.
VIRTUAL SAFETY CAR
Verstappen stops for tyres again. Free stop. Just to cover off the threat of Hamilton from trying to get it.
VERSTAPPEN SETS THE FASTEST LAP
The Dutchman is on for the bonus point here.
LATIFI NOW GETS A PUNCTURE
Cars failing left right and centre. Pirelli did say they would not last the distance.
PUNCTURE FOR RUSSELL
The gamble not to stop for a second time has backfired at Williams. Russell has a puncture.
BOTTAS TOLD TO RETIRE THE CAR
A miserable GP for the Finn, who is back in the team’s garage after a wretched race.
10 LAPS TO GO
It is Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso, Norris, Perez.
Could Alonso be on for a podium?
HAMILTON PITS
And the race leader pits too. He pits from the lead and returns to the track in the lead. He is crushing this GP.
LAP 42 PEREZ STOPS FOR TYRES TOO
The Mexican pits from third.
LAP 42 VERSTAPPEN STOPS AGAIN
A fresh set of tyres to get him to the end of the race.
HAMILTON RADIOS HIS TEAM – A SLIGHT CONCERN?
“Very small vibrations on my front tyre,” he says. He is nine seconds ahead of Verstappen.
BOTTAS HAS A PUNCTURE
He was running in third but had not stopped for fresh tyres. He slides off track and into the gravel.
He made it back on track and trundled around, sparks flying from his Merc. Eventually he was passed by Perez.
He limped back to the pits and now has a fresh set of tyres, but he is down in 14th
MAX IS READY TO GO…
He’s asked his engineer if he can “have a bit of fun” as he is “going to finish second anyway”.
Tells you all you need to know about this race now, which is becoming a procession for Hamilton.
SAINZ AND LECLERC IN FOURTH AND FIFTH
That’s a solid result so far for Ferrari, who are looking to take third place in the constructors’ championship.
HAMILTON HAS A WHOPPING LEAD
Just 20 laps into this 57 lap race and he’s stopped for tyres and has a 8.6 second lead over Verstappen.
Alonso, who has not even stopped yet, it a further 4.5 seconds behind the Dutchman.
BOTH VERSTAPPEN AND HAMILTON HAVE STOPPED
And yet they remain the front two cars in this race. That’s a free pitstop for both. It is only lap 19 of 57.
It is Hamilton then Verstappen.
HAMILTON NOW STOPS TOO
Mercedes respond to the undercut from Red Bull to call in the race leader for fresh rubber.
VERSTAPPEN STOPS FOR TYRES
The Red Bull man makes his pitstop at the end of lap 17.
BOTTAS HAS WOKEN UP
The Finn who drinks about 10 espressos a day, has finally come alive. He’s passing everyone and in to sixth.
PEREZ IS ALSO MAKING PROGRESS
He is up to fifth.
BOTTAS GETS A HURRY UP FROM THE BOSS
Wolff is on the radio telling his man to pull his finger out. He’s been languishing in 11th place for 9 laps. He’s just overtaken Tsunoda for 10th.
VERSTAPPEN IN SECOND
It has taken him five laps to wipe up that grid penalty. He is now behind Hamilton, albeit four seconds behind.
MAX IS BACK
He is on the charge. He started seventh but is already up to third on lap 4.
TV REPLAYS SHOW VERSTAPPEN AVOIDING ALONSO
The Red Bull man was hard on the brakes to avoid hitting the Spaniard.
GREAT START FROM HAMILTON
He gets away cleanly. Verstappen gets right into the thick of things and some how makes it into fourth place.
It is Hamilton, Alonso, Gasly, Verstappen, Norris…
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
