Max Verstappen hits back in fierce title fight with Lewis Hamilton after going marginally quicker in Friday practice for the Qatar Grand Prix... but Brit's Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas goes fastest at the Losail Circuit
- Valtteri Bottas led the way for Mercedes at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix
- Finn was two tenths quicker than AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly at the Losail circuit
- Max Verstappen was third quickest and three tenths down for Red Bull
- Chief title rival Lewis Hamilton was only slightly behind, going fourth quickest
- Max Verstappen escapes punishment following Brazil battle with Lewis Hamilton
Max Verstappen ended an explosive day in the title battle against Lewis Hamilton narrowly quicker than his rival in Friday practice at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Verstappen came into the weekend subject to a Mercedes review request regarding his defensive driving against Hamilton at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last time out.
But the Red Bull driver survived any reprimand following the incident where he appeared to force the Brit off the road at Interlagos.
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The Dutchman then ended the day third quickest at the Losail Circuit less than a tenth quicker than fourth placed Hamilton.
However it appears Mercedes have the overall advantage in Qatar with Valtteri Bottas going quickest, two tenths faster than the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly.
Hamilton took the chequered flag in Brazil last weekend to close the gap in the drivers' championship to 14 points with three races remaining.
But Verstappen escaped punishment for running the current champion off the road as they duelled for first position on lap 48.
Mercedes launched an appeal against the decision not to investigate the incident after onboard camera footage from Verstappen's car had been released.
While the meeting to decide on the review started on Thursday afternoon it was still unresolved as the cars took to the track on Friday - some 20 hours later, before the FIA decided no further action would be taken just minutes after first practice concluded.
Hamilton, sporting a rainbow flag on his helmet having called on F1 and other sportspeople to speak out against human rights issues which plague countries such as Qatar, endured a difficult start to the session.
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