Oscar Piastri WINS Qatar GP sprint shootout as McLaren seal front row lockout with team-mate Lando Norris in second ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – with Lewis Hamilton 12th!
- McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished two tenths ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen
- Verstappen can win the championship with a finish of sixth place or better
- Lewis Hamilton had a shootout to forget after failing to progress from Q2
Max Verstappen missed out on pole for Saturday’s sprint race in Qatar, the honour falling to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, though the Dutchman is still expected to be crowned world champion for a third consecutive year on Saturday evening.
Verstappen, who has carried all before him this season, ran wide at Turn 5 at the roasting Lusail International Circuit and was unable to match Piastri’s time with his second and final blast in the sprint shoot-out.
Piastri’s team-mate Lando Norris was second quickest with Verstappen third.
Regardless, Verstappen needs just three points – or sixth place or better – in the sprint (at 6.30pm, BST) to be assured of the title. But even that would not be necessary if his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who will start from eighth, fails to score six points himself.
If Verstappen prevails in the 19-lap dash, he will wrap up the title with six grands prix, including Sunday’s, remaining.
Oscar Piastri finished on pole in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint shootout ahead of the sprint race
Piastri finished a full two tenths ahead of Max Verstappen, who will start from third place
Verstappen will know that a finish in third will be enough to confirm a third consecutive crown
Lewis Hamilton qualified only 12th for the sprint. The Briton had a number of times deleted for exceeding track limits. He looked out of sorts and out of shape. His Mercedes team-mate George Russell was fourth fastest.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll endured another dejecting day. Having qualified 17th on Friday for the grand prix proper – a setback that triggered his ill-tempered shove of his performance coach – the Canadian was only 16th best in the shoot-out.
The action was delayed by 20 minutes after safety concerns over the Pirelli tyres, which had shown ‘a separation between the topping compound and the carcass cords’ during practice on Friday.
The drivers met to discuss the problem at the track this afternoon, receiving an explanation from the FIA. The wear only revealed itself after 20 laps of running so the shoot-out was not impacted.
The tyres will be analysed again before Sunday’s 57-lap contest. Consideration is being given to mandating three stops, thus limiting sets to 20 laps each, plus one in and out-lap.
Track limits have been relaxed at the offending corners, Turns 12 and 13, where a 5cm kerb is thought to have caused the damage.
The Australian held off team-mate Lando Norris to secure pole for the sprint starting later on Saturday
Lewis Hamilton failed to make it out of Q2 for the sprint shootout and will start as far back as 12th
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