Oscar Piastri returned to the top in F1 Qatar GP sprint qualifying after pole from George Russell by 0.32s margin, with Lando Norris in the Top 3.
Here’s Oscar Piastri on top in F1 Qatar GP FP1: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp1-piastri-pips-norris-to-top-spot-in-sole-qatar-grand-prix-practice.0exOTQ708HV7UJnBX9d6R
SQ1:
The first part in F1 Qatar GP sprint qualifying under the floodlights in Lusail circuit saw a close pack with the Top 19 covered within 0.940s margin, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (1m12.172s) set the pace on mandated medium tyres, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
The late movement from couple of drivers saw Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll drop to 16th and get knocked out after his 1m21.087s lap from Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson (1m21.851s). The biggest to drop out was Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton after his 1m21.043s lap.
He had only Alpine pair of Pierre Gasly (1m22.112s) and Franco Colapinto (1m22.364s) in 19th and 20th. Both Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris were cleared for impeding after replays showed the Dutchman having to get through the pair of them in the final part of the circuit.
Piastri and Norris moved to the left as much when Verstappen was completing his lap. The Dutchman then did more or less similar against the Brit at Turn 1, moving to the left instead of slowing to the right. Both complained about each other, but were let off after making it out of SQ1.
SQ2:
The second part in F1 Qatar GP sprint qualifying saw close times again with the Top 15 covered by 0.710s margin on the medium compound, with Norris (1m20.956s) lap ahead of Piastri and Verstappen where the Top 3 were separated by 0.080s margin in a close fight.
Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar initially made it in but was knocked out to be 11th with a 1m21.277s lap due to track limits at Turn 8, which allowed Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the Top 10 after an early wide moment. Haas’ Oliver Bearman was 12th after his 1m21.494s lap.
The pair of Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto (1m21.567s) and Nico Hulkenberg (1m21.327s) finished 13th and 14th, with Haas’ Esteban Ocon (1m21.666s) in 15th. Replays showed moment for Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso of impeding, with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda caught out but both made it in Top 10.
SQ3:
The first run in final part in F1 Qatar GP sprint qualifying saw a McLaren 1-2 where Piastri (1m20.241s) led the way from Norris (1m20.285s), with Mercedes’ George Russell (1m20.528s) in third. It wasn’t the first run for either of the Red Bull drivers, with Verstappen without a competitive lap.
Replays showed a wide moment at Turn 4 as he was forced to leave it all on the final run. At the front, Piastri was finally back on top with a 1m20.055s lap to secure F1 sprint pole in Qatar GP by 0.032s margin over Russell (1m20.285s), with Norris (1m20.285s) in third.
The Brit had a wide moment in the final corner on his final attempt to limit his chances, with Alonso (1m20.450s) slotting in fourth from Tsunoda (1m20.519s) in the Top 5. The Japanese driver finally managed to out-qualify teammate Verstappen (1m20.528s) after several attempts.
Antonelli (1m20.532s) was seventh from Williams’ Carlos Sainz (1m20.542s), Leclerc (1m20.622s) and Williams’ Alexander Albon (1m20.788s) in the Top 10.
Result: https://x.com/MsportXtra/status/1994462511618302116?s=20
https://x.com/MsportXtra/status/1994467083581628925?s=20
https://x.com/MsportXtra/status/1994470601575055703?s=20
