Oscar Piastri takes Qatar Grand Prix sprint pole ahead of Norris and Verstappen

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has taken pole position for the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix as teammate Lando Norris starts behind him in third.

Feature image credit: Grégoire Truchet

After a single practice session, Piastri has converted his fastest lap in Free Practice into sprint pole position as he pipped Mercedes’ George Russell to the top spot around the Lusail circuit. His championship-leading teammate, Norris, could only best third-fastest in a weekend where he could claim his maiden world title.

The two McLarens were within the fight to take pole through the sprint qualifying session, in the final top 10 shootout, but Norris was not able to improve his banker lap to take provisional pole as the Briton ran wide on the final corner. Fortunately for the #4 McLaren, his first lap was still enough to claim third.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was not happy with the rideability of his car throughout the last third of qualifying as the four-time world champion claimed his car was ‘bouncing’ around the track, causing him to exceed track limits early on.

When he was able to string a lap together, Verstappen was only able to best sixth place on the sprint grid, behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who will start fifth.

Sprint qualifying was not without a shock exit as Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton found himself eliminated early on in SQ1 as the seven-time world champion finished 18th, claiming the car couldn’t go any faster. His last lap in SQ1 was enough to escape the elimination zone, in 15th, but his replacement at Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli, brought his qualifying session to an early end.

Oscar Piastri tops practice in Qatar Grand prix ahead of sprint qualifying

Who qualified where?

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. Alexander Albon, Williams
11. Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
12. Oliver Bearman, Haas
13. Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber
14. Nico Hulkenberg, Kick Sauber
15. Esteban Ocon, Haas
16. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
17. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
18. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
19. Pierre Gasly, Alpine
20. Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Oscar Piastri tops practice in Qatar Grand prix ahead of sprint qualifying
• Adrian Newey to be Aston Martin F1 Team Principal in 2026
• Qatar Grand Prix Preview: Championships on the line in penultimate round
• Gabriel Bortoleto given five-place grid penalty for Qatar GP after Lance Stroll crash
• Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified from Las Vegas Grand Prix
• Both McLaren cars at risk of disqualification of Las Vegas Grand Prix

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.