Qatar GP Sprint: Oscar Piastri trims Lando Norris’ championship lead after dominant win from George Russell as Max Verstappen finishes fourth

Oscar Piastri dominated the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint to cut his deficit to championship leader Lando Norris to 22 points.

Pole-sitter Piastri led every moment of the 19-lap Sprint on Saturday from George Russell, while Norris fended off an early attack from Max Verstappen who made up ground from sixth on the opening lap but falls to 25 points behind Norris with just two races to go in Qatar on Sunday and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 7.

The result still means Norris will be world champion if he at least 26 points ahead of Piastri and Verstappen after Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix.

F1 Drivers’ Championship – top three

Driver
Team
Points

1) Lando Norris
McLaren
396

2) Oscar Piastri
McLaren
374

3) Max Verstappen
Red Bull
371

The most simple way he can do that is by winning the race, or finishing second with Verstappen behind him and Piastri off the podium.

Verstappen and Piastri must stay within 25 points of Norris to remain in title contention for next weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s been a good weekend so far. Everything went smoothly in the Sprint there, so I’m happy with how it’s been so far and just need to keep it rolling,” said Piastri.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Oscar Piastri holds his lead of the Qatar GP Sprint race on the first lap as Max Verstappen overtakes team-mate Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda produced his best Red Bull result of the season with fifth, despite a five-second time penalty for track limits and Kimi Antonelli made the only pass in the top 10 during the Sprint to finish seventh, also incurring a penalty for track limits.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was seventh with Williams’ Carlos Sainz scoring the final point in eighth.

Ferrari had a difficult Sprint with Charles Leclerc in 13th and Lewis Hamilton stating “I don’t know how we made the car worse” on his way from the pit lane to 17th.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky Sports Rachel Brookes catches up with Gary Neville ahead of the Sprint from the Qatar GP

Qatar GP Sprint: Top 8

1) Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2) George Russell, Mercedes

3) Lando Norris, McLaren

4) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

5) Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull

6) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

7) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

8) Carlos Sainz, Williams

Sky Sports F1’s Qatar GP schedule

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Qatar Grand Prix

Saturday November 29
5.15pm: Qatar GP Qualifying build-up
6pm: QATAR GP QUALIFYING
8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday November 30
11.55am: F2 Feature
2.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
4pm: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
6pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP reaction
7pm: Ted’s Notebook

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1’s season-ending triple header continues with the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime