Oscar Piastri took pole for the Qatar sprint, outpacing team rival Lando Norris’s McLaren, who could only manage third. Mercedes’ George Russell split the pair in second, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — level with Piastri in the title fight and 24 points behind Norris — struggled and will start sixth.
Norris cannot secure the world championship after Saturday’s sprint, but the title remains within reach for Sunday’s grand prix: if he finishes the race and scores two more points than both Piastri and Verstappen, he can wrap up the championship.
Piastri put in two strong flying laps to top qualifying, delivering a composed performance despite a late oversteer scare into Turn Four that he estimated cost him around two-tenths. He said the car felt good all day and credited set-up changes ahead of qualifying.
Norris, by contrast, damaged his floor after an off during the second session. He was only hundredths behind Piastri on his opening lap in the final segment, but his final attempt was compromised first by traffic after following Williams’ Alex Albon and then by running wide out of the last corner. A further off-track moment left him behind Russell.
“I had the pace, but I made
