Sprint Race Report - Piastri handed McLaren 1-2

By Mark Karp

Lando Norris after leading from pole to the final corner of the final lap, let his team mate Oscar Piastri through to take a McLaren-Mercedes a 1-2 finish in the Qatar Sprint Grand Prix tonight.

Norris finished second, 0.136 behind the winner. George Russell in the Mercedes GP took third, 0.410 behind the winner.

After the race Norris said letting Piastri take the position was payback for his help in Brazil.

Carlos Sainz (1.326s) in the Ferrari finished fourth, followed by his team mate Charles Leclerc (5.073s) was fifth, Lewis Hamilton (5.650s) in the second Mercedes GP was sixth, Nico Hulkenberg (8.508s) in the Haas-Ferrari was seventh, and Max Verstappen (10.368s) in the Red Bull-Honda took the final point in eighth place.

Before the start of the final 19-lap Sprint Race of the season, Norris is on pole with Russell alongside on the front row, Piastri and Sainz on row 2, Leclerc and Verstappen on row 3, Hamilton and Gasly on row 4, and Hulkenberg and Lawson rounding out the top ten. Colapinto and Perez both starting from the pitlane.

At the appointed time with the wind blowing, the field came around on the formation lap, lined up on the grid, the lights went out and the race began with Norris getting off the line well, Piastri takes second with Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Verstappen and Alonso in tenth.

On lap 2 Norris sets fast lap at 1m25.961s, and leads by 1.1 seconds.

The next lap Russell is fastest at 1m25.803s, and tries to pass Piastri but is unable to.

On lap 4 Sainz sets a 1m25.747s.

On lap 6 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m25.522s.

Magnussen passes Alonso. Verstappen passes Gasly.

At lap 8 Norris leads Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Lecleerc, Hulkenberg, and Verstappen in 8th, setting fast lap at 1m25.224s.

On lap 10 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m25.110s.

On lap 11 Norris sets fast lap at 1m25.067s and leads Piastri by 0.8s.

Sainz goes quicker the next lap at 1m24.904s.

On lap 12 Russell sets fast lap at 1m24.555s.

Hamilton and Leclerc battle and Leclerc takes fifth place.

On lap 14 Norris sets fast lap at 1m24.329s.

Russell is challenging Piastri for second place, Piastri chops to the inside to stop Russell.

On lap 15 Perez pits and changes his front nose.

On lap 17 Leclerc sets fast lap at 1m24.203s, and again the next lap at 1m23.923s.

At the final corner of the final lap Norris runs tight out of the corner and lets Piastri through to take the win, over Norris and Russell.