Oscar Piastri took the F1 Qatar GP sprint win after Lando Norris gave way in the final corner, as George Russell was third.
It was a clean start from McLaren’s Lando Norris in F1 Qatar GP sprint under the floodlights as teammate Oscar Piastri made a bold move on Mercedes’ George Russell to take second away from the Brit. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz maintained fourth but Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton made gains.
He jumped to fifth, even clearing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who was fighting his teammate. Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly made up a place each as well after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dropped to outside the points in ninth due to oversteer situation on Lap 1.
His teammate Sergio Perez had to start from the pitlane alongside Williams’ Franco Colapinto, but the Mexican lost out to the Argentine just exiting the pits as the replayed showcased. At the front, Norris had to play the team game to give DRS to teammate Piastri, who had Russell on his tail.
The Brit tried to make a move a couple of times but couldn’t as a train of cars was formed with Sainz, Hamilton and Leclerc joining in. Hulkenberg stood seventh from Verstappen, who managed to find his way past Gasly to tuck himself in the points places in the Top 8.
The gainer among all this was Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, who was up to 10th, while Visa Cash App RB dropped from the Top 10 to 16th. Norris kept on helping Piastri and the moment he left him alone, Russell pounced on him, where the Australian had to bring out the aggressive defence.
Sainz joined the battle too. He had his teammate Leclerc in fifth after a solid fight against Hamilton, going wheel-to-wheel for couple of corners before sticking it. Replays showed front wing change for Perez, which more or less suggested that Red Bull were treating it as a test session.
Russell had one more go on the final lap but it didn’t happen and Norris gave up the F1 sprint win to Piastri after slowing down in the final corner for the Australian to win the Qatar GP sprint. It was a pay back for the Brazil sprint, when the Australian gave way to the Brit to win.
Russell had to settle for third ahead of Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Verstappen in the Top 8 points places, as Gasly was ninth and Magnussen rounded out the Top 10.
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