Right here is our full textual content transcript from the final Dash race of the 2024 Components 1 season, which was held on the 5.419-kilometre Lusail Worldwide Circuit:
It’s practically time for the ultimate Dash of the 2024 season.
The sixth and ultimate short-form Saturday race of the 12 months – which right here will final for 19 laps of Qatar’s Lusail Worldwide Circuit – begins at 2pm and sees Lando Norris lead a one-three for McLaren on the grid because the Woking group try and make what seems a tempo benefit this weekend rely and transfer a step nearer to their first Constructors’ Championship title since 1998.
Mercedes’ George Russell begins between Norris and Oscar Piastri after one other spectacular displaying in Dash Qualifying lower than per week on from his win in Las Vegas, whereas McLaren’s primary rivals Ferrari are again in fourth and fifth. A most of 15 factors can be found for a group within the Dash , eight for first and 7 for second, and McLaren will probably be eager to financial institution all of these if they’ll.
Charles Leclerc admitted Ferrari got here “again to actuality” as Lando Norris took Dash pole on the Qatar Grand Prix to spice up McLaren’s hopes of holding on to their Constructors’ Championship lead.
Ferrari’s sturdy current type has seen them near inside 24 factors of McLaren on the prime of the standings with two rounds remaining, however predictions that the Lusail Worldwide Circuit would go well with the leaders got here to fruition on Friday.
A shock gave the impression to be in retailer when Leclerc topped first apply, however Lando Norris took Dash pole forward of Mercedes’ George Russell, with the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri taking third forward of the Monegasque and his team-mate Carlos Sainz.
“We gave it our all and are solely P4 and P5, which isn’t nice contemplating how vital this weekend is,” Charles Leclerc mentioned – “Let’s say, for no matter cause, FP1 was quite a bit above our expectations. This I’ll say is according to what we anticipated. We’re coming again to actuality. Clearly after FP1 there have been hopes we might do one thing higher however we didn’t.”
Apparently, Ferrari solely have one set of laborious tyres left. That may very well be vital tomorrow. We count on everybody to make use of the medium tyres within the Dash.
Fairly remarkably, Ferrari have didn’t win any of 17 Sprints which were held since Components 1 launched the format in 2021. That streak seems more likely to lengthen into 2025 with Carlos Sainz beginning fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth at this time. Nonetheless, maybe the larger query for Ferrari is whether or not they have the long-run tempo to hold with McLaren and preserve themselves within the Constructors’ Championship combat for the rest of the weekend.
As anticipated, all 20 drivers will begin on the medium tyres, other than Zhou Guanyu who’s on the softs from 18th.
Lap 1/19: He’s executed it comfortably this time – Lando Norris holds the lead into Flip One from pole! And Oscar Piastri is as much as second forward of George Russell after overtaking down the within into Flip Two. McLaren run one two!
Lap 1/19: Lewis Hamilton makes an important begin and is into fifth place, after ranging from seventh. He will get forward of Charles Leclerc and holds him off within the center sector.
Lap 1/19: Most likely the worst begin to a race Max Verstappen has had for a very long time – he’s dropped from sixth to ninth! Out of the factors for the Dash in the meanwhile, behind Pierre Gasly within the Alpine.
Lap 2/19: Oscar Piastri has George Russell proper on him within the early phases of this Dash, as Lando Norris, crucially, will get out of DRS vary.
Lap 3/19: Begin of the third lap with DRS now enabled and as George Russell has a faint look down the within of Oscar Piastri in the direction of the Flip One braking zone earlier than pondering higher of it, Lando Norris leads by 1.2s. Carlos Sainz runs fourth forward of the fast-starting Lewis Hamilton.
Lap 4/19: George Russell goes for it into Flip One on Oscar Piastri however the McLaren driver hangs it across the exterior and by some means stays in second place.
Lap 7/19: Everybody, other than Lando Norris, has DRS within the prime 5. Norris helps Piastri by maintaining him inside one second, so Russell can’t overtake the second McLaren driver. Then come Sainz and Hamilton proper there too for good measure.
Lap 8/19: In order that’s a degree for Max Verstappen on this Dash because it stands as he makes a transfer to realize one in all his misplaced positions again with a transfer down the within of Pierre Gasly with DRS into Flip One.
Lap 9/19: Russell forces Piastri to look in his mirrors as he darts to the within into Flip One once more, however just isn’t as shut this time in contrast to some laps once more. No change within the prime positions.
Lap 10/19: Hamilton drops out of DRS vary from Sainz, as he saves his tyres and now Leclerc is on the again of the seven-time world champion within the battle for fifth.
Lap 12/19: The tempo continues to be very excessive on the entrance as Carlos Sainz units a brand new quickest lap from fourth place. Everybody nonetheless has DRS on one another within the prime six as Norris leads Piastri and Russell.
Leclerc overtakes Hamilton after mighty tussle!
Lap 13/19: Sensational racing between the 2025 Ferrari team-mates in a battle for fifth! Charles Leclerc received an important run on Lewis Hamilton down the primary straight and went for the within on the Mercedes, however the seven-time world champion held on brilliantly across the exterior. Whether or not or not they made slight contact is inappropriate, the drivers raced fantastically wheel-to-wheel for a number of corners earlier than the Ferrari lastly received forward.
Lap 14/19: Piastri is pressured to cowl the within this time as Russell goes for it, however the McLaren driver holds on.
Lap 15/19: Piastri misplaced a whole lot of time when keeping off Russell however Norris slows down to assist his McLaren team-mate and provides him DRS.
Piastri loses DRS
Lap 18/19: Piastri doesn’t have DRS this time on Norris however Russell just isn’t shut sufficient to make a transfer. Sainz continues to be there in fourth and it seems like Leclerc and Hamilton will keep the place they’re.
Norris items Piastri Dash win in return for Sao Paulo! Chequered Flag: Wow, Lando Norris had that such below management that he might even permit his team-mate to overhaul him on the run to the end line so Oscar Piastri might win the Dash!
Keep in mind, Piastri gifted Norris a win on the final Dash occasion in Sao Paulo earlier this month. McLaren one-two and a giant early enhance to their constructors’ title hopes. George Russell stayed third regardless of that late McLaren choreography.
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