Lando Norris claimed an impressive pole position for the Qatar GP Sprint as McLaren struck the first blow in their constructors’ title battle with Ferrari by taking first and third on Saturday’s grid.
Five days after he saw his bid for the Drivers’ Championship against Max Verstappen officially ended in Las Vegas, Norris topped all three segments of Sprint Qualifying around the high-speed Lusail International Circuit to claim a commanding pole.
But Mercedes’ George Russell – the race winner in Las Vegas – denied title-chasing McLaren a front-row lockout by pipping Oscar Piastri to the other front-row berth.
Norris’ pacesetting time of 1:21.012 was 0.063s ahead of Russell, with Piastri a further 0.096s adrift.
Ferrari, who trail McLaren by 24 points with two race weekends to go, had looked quick in the earlier sole practice session but failed to mount a challenge in SQ3, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc qualifying only fourth and fifth respectively.
New four-time champion Verstappen was never in the mix in his Red Bull and could only manage sixth, although that was still 10 places higher than struggling team-mate Sergio Perez.
With no end to his on-track travails seemingly in sight as speculation continues to swirl about his future beyond the end of the season next week, Perez was knocked out in SQ1 in 16th place – the seventh time in a qualifying session this year that the Mexican has failed to clear the first hurdle.
Lewis Hamilton was again outqualified comfortably by Mercedes team-mate Russell and will start seventh, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly eighth as the Frenchman’s fine late-season run continues.
RB’s Liam Lawson, who is eyeing up Perez’s seat in the main Red Bull team for next season, made the top 10 although lost ninth to Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg after his final lap time was deleted for a track limits infringement.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Qatar GP schedule
Saturday November 30
12.10pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
1pm: Qatar GP Sprint build-up
2pm: QATAR GP SPRINT
3.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
4pm: F2 Sprint Race
5.15pm: Qatar GP Qualifying build-up
6pm: QATAR GP QUALIFYING
8pm: F1 Academy: Race One
8.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday December 1
10.55am: F1 Academy Race Two
12.15pm: F2 Feature Race
2.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
4pm: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
6pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP reaction
7pm: Ted’s Notebook
Formula 1’s season-ending triple-header continues this weekend with the Qatar Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream the final two F1 races and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
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