Oscar Piastri controlled in front to win F1 sprint in Qatar GP from George Russell, with Lando Norris fending off Max Verstappen for third.
It was a clean start to F1 Qatar GP sprint race at Lusail under the floodlights as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri led the way from Mercedes’ George Russell and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Replays showed the two almost hitting each other in the run-up to Turn 1 but escaping it.
Norris also had Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda at his side, but managed to fend off as the Japanese driver allowed teammate Max Verstappen through to fourth after both managed to clear Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli continued in seventh.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz was eighth to be last in the points places, with Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar chasing him in ninth after a good start. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lost four places at the start to be 13th behind Haas’ Oliver Bearman. But it was not plain sailing for the Monegasque still.
He continued to have wide moments which brought Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson to pass him by going off-track. But the Kiwi was asked to give back the place. Further back, teammate Lewis Hamilton was in the back pack after starting in the pitlane along with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Alpine pair.
Stroll decided to pit as did the Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto. Up front, Piastri was in control from Russell, but Norris came under pressure from Verstappen in early part of the race. Tsunoda was pinged for track limits and was handed a 5s time penalty.
A wide moment in the final corner allowed Antonelli through to fifth from Alonso. The Italian was in danger of track limits penalty but managed to keep it inside the white line. It was a bit cautious in the end, as Piastri took a crucial F1 sprint win in Qatar GP at Lusail circuit.
Russell retained second from Norris, with Verstappen in fourth. Tusnoda was fifth but ended up sixth after his penalty, with Antonelli taking fifth. But post-race, the penalty on the Italian was applied to drop him to sixth again, with the Japanese retaking fifth place in a good result for him.
Alonso scored points in seventh from Sainz in the Top 8 points places, with Hadjar ninth and Albon rounding the Top 10.
Here’s what was said after Friday in F1 Qatar GP
