In a surprising turn of events, Oscar Piastri snatched pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint qualifying session. Title contenders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen found themselves in third and sixth places, respectively, dealing a blow to their championship aspirations.
Piastri's impressive performance at the Lusail International Circuit saw him edge out George Russell from Mercedes by a mere three hundredths of a second. Championship leader Norris ended up two-tenths behind Piastri after an error on his second flying lap in the final qualifying segment (SQ3).
Verstappen faced difficulties, making an error on his initial flying lap attempt in SQ3. He was subsequently outpaced by Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin and his Red Bull teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, who secured a qualifying triumph over the Dutch driver for the first time this season.
As the penultimate round of the season approaches, Norris maintains a 24-point lead over both Piastri and Verstappen. A victory in Saturday's Sprint, combined with a strategic points advantage, could seal the championship for Norris.
The top 10 qualifiers for the Qatar GP Sprint are:
1. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
2. George Russell, Mercedes
3. Lando Norris, McLaren
4. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
5. Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
7. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
8. Carlos Sainz, Williams
9. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
10. Alex Albon, Williams
Lewis Hamilton's struggle with Ferrari continued as the seven-time world champion was eliminated in the first qualifying segment (SQ1), securing the 18th position on the grid. Hamilton's disappointing campaign saw him qualify last in Las Vegas the previous week, and his lack of pace and minimal communication in the post-session interview highlighted his ongoing challenges.
Piastri's pole position marked a significant improvement in his qualifying form, ending a six-race streak where Norris had outperformed him. Despite leading the championship earlier in the season, Piastri's recent performances have left him with slim title hopes. However, his strong showing on Friday reignited his chances, and he expressed optimism about his team's performance.
Norris, who has been in excellent form, saw his title hopes dampened by the disqualification of both McLarens from the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to excessive plank wear. Despite his errors in the final qualifying segment, Norris remains in control of his championship destiny. He acknowledged his mistake but remained confident in his team's ability to support his title bid.
Verstappen, who arrived in Qatar with momentum from his Vegas victory, struggled to find his setup on Friday. His frustrations carried over to the qualifying session, where he lost his composure over perceived impediments from Norris. The Dutch driver faces an uphill battle to close the points gap and secure the championship.
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