QATAR GP – Lando Norris beats Carlos Sainz to sprint pole by six hundredths in another close qualifying
Lando Norris has beaten Carlos Sainz by six hundredths to take sprint pole for the final sprint race of the season at the Qatar Grand Prix. The McLaren driver set a 21.012 on his first attempt in SQ3 before ‘making too many mistakes’ on his second run but was unchallenged by the Ferrari on his second run.
It’s a perfect response to losing the championship to Max Verstappen last weekend in Las Vegas, Norris looked in control despite a few mistakes to secure pole. Norris took pole with his first attempt after dipping a tyre into the gravel at Turn Two, his teammate Oscar Piastri was fastest in the first sector but lost time over the remainder of the lap.
Russell managed to split the two McLarens after he went nearly a tenth faster than last year’s sprint pole sitter and winner Piastri as the Englishman looked to secure pole.
McLaren were the favourites going into the weekend the fast-flowing circuit once again played into their strengths and allowed them to take back-to-back sprint poles in Lusail. Carlos Sainz put his Ferrari fourth he was a tenth off as their pace in practice didn’t translate to allow them to challenge for pole, the Spaniard going three hundredths faster than teammate Charles Leclerc.
This could be a boost for McLaren in their fight with Ferrari in the constructors they head into the final two races of the season twenty-five points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors’ championship. Norris’ hopes of beating Verstappen to the drivers’ title were finally extinguished in Las Vegas on a disappointing weekend for McLaren. They can seal the constructors tomorrow if they finish one-two in the sprint.
Ferrari’s prediction going into the weekend came true despite Leclerc being fastest in FP, they had predicted that McLaren would be strong in Lusail.
Norris said, “Our target is a one-two, and maximise points for the constructors’ but not expecting an easy one.” However, the Englishman has at times struggled to convert poles into the lead which might be a concern.
Russell continued his strong form at a very different circuit in a very different desert, the Mercedes driver added “Felt really strong all session. The car was really great and this circuit is one of the best when you get into that groove and rhythm. It’s so fast. I went flat through the high-speed for the first time and confused the engine a bit. Had a big recharge out of it because it went through flat. A bit annoying because I lost a chunk on the exit but I still think Lando was a bit out of reach.”
Max Verstappen was sixth going seven hundredths behind Leclerc, Red Bull has looked to struggle at this type of fast-flowing circuits all season and he was a tenth and a half ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen was also unable to improve on his final attempt in SQ3. But the champion-elect looked never to be in a mix this weekend.
While Hamilton was again outqualified comfortably by Mercedes team-mate Russell and will start seventh. But throughout the day the times between the top four teams covered by under half a second.
Pierre Gasly put his Alpine eighth following his strong race in Las Vegas the Frenchman was three hundredths faster than Nico Hulkenberg. Gasly got through to SQ3 after going eight hundredths faster than Fernando Alonso at the end of SQ2.
Nico Hulkenberg put his Haas ninth he was a tenth behind Gasly and ahead of Liam Lawson behind to complete the top ten. Alex Albon joined Alonso being knocked out in SQ2 he was nearly a tenth behind after he had a twitch of oversteer on his final attempt, but he was a hundred ahead of Valtteri Bottas who also didn’t improve on his final attempt despite making up time.
Lance Stroll was fourteenth going under two and a quarter of a tenths faster than the Haas of Kevin Magnussen as they rounded out the slowest in SQ2.
Sergio Perez will be again under more pressure following another SQ1/Q1 knock out, the Mexican was just over a hundredth behind Albon. Despite Red Bull’s struggle there is renewed questions about his long term future. Perez was four hundredths faster than his main rival for the Red Bull seat, the RB of Yuki Tsunoda, he put his early exit down to a fight for track position with Leclerc.
Esteban Ocon was nearly two tenths behind Tsunoda, with Guanyu Zhou and Franco Colapinto completing the field. Both the Sauber and Williams drivers failed to improve on their final runs in SQ1.