Qatar GP Sprint Qualifying: Oscar Piastri takes pole with Lando Norris third, Max Verstappen sixth
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint as his title rivals Lando Norris and Max Verstappen had to settle for third and sixth, respectively.
Piastri produced a strong display at the Lusail International Circuit to edge out Mercedes’ George Russell for pole by just three hundredths of a second, while championship leader Norris was two tenths back after making an error on his second flying lap in SQ3.
Verstappen made an error on his first attempt at a flying lap in SQ3 and was then outpaced by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and his Red Bull team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who outqualified the Dutchman for the first time this season.
Norris is 24 points clear of both his McLaren team-mate Piastri and Red Bull’s Verstappen going into Saturday’s Sprint at the penultimate round of the season, and will seal the title on Sunday if he is at least 26 points ahead in the standings.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Max Verstappen claimed Lando Norris impeded him at Turn 16 of the Qatar Grand Prix, before Norris said Verstappen did the same later at Turn One during Sprint Qualifying
Piastri’s performance, which followed him topping the weekend’s sole practice session earlier on Friday, ended a poor run of qualifying form that had seen him outpaced by Norris over one lap on six successive occasions.
The Australian was the clear favourite for the title when he led Norris by 34 points after the Dutch Grand Prix in August, but a run of six successive grands prix without a podium have left him with what he described on Thursday as just an “outside shot” of catching his team-mate.
After reigniting his hopes on Friday, Piastri said: “It has been a good day, which is nice for a change. Things clicked from the start, so thanks to the team. It has looked good this weekend so far.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Kimi Antonelli goes faster than Lewis Hamilton to bump him out of session one of Sprint Qualifying!
“There are a few things to tidy up, which is nice to say on pole. It’s only Sprint pole but I will take whatever I can get.
“Sprint weekends are tough to know if you are fully on top of things but it felt good all day and we made good adjustments before Qualifying. The pace was there all day.”
Lewis Hamilton’s woeful debut campaign with Ferrari continued as the seven-time world champion made a tame exit in SQ1 that leaves him starting 18th on the grid.
More to follow…
Qatar GP Sprint Qualifying Timesheet
Driver
Team
Time
1) Oscar Piastri
McLaren
1:20.055
2) George Russell
Mercedes
+0.032
3) Lando Norris
McLaren
+0.230
4) Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
+0.395
5) Yuki Tsunoda
Red Bull
+0.464
6) Max Verstappen
Red Bull
+0.473
7) Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
+0.477
8) Carlos Sainz
Williams
+0.487
9) Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
+0.567
10) Alex Albon
Williams
+0.733
Knocked out in SQ2
11) Isack Hadjar
Racing Bulls
1:21.433
12) Oliver Bearman
Haas
1:21.494
13) Gabriel Bortoleto
Sauber
1:21.567
14) Nico Hulkenberg
Sauber
1:21.631
15) Esteban Ocon
Haas
1:21.666
Knocked out in SQ1
16) Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
1:21.807
17) Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls
1:21.851
18) Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
1:22.043
19) Pierre Gasly
Alpine
1:22.112
20) Franco Colapinto
Alpine
1:22.364
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
1pm: Qatar GP Sprint build-up*
2pm: QATAR GP SPRINT*
3.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook*
4.15pm: F2 Sprint
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 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
