Friday Sprint Qualifying Report - F1 Qatar GP sprint pole goes to Piastri

Oscar Piastri
© McLaren

Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race with a composed and controlled SQ3 performance, heading George Russell and team-mate Lando Norris after a tight qualifying battle under the Losail lights. The Australian, who had topped the sole free practice session earlier in the afternoon, carried that improved form into all three phases of sprint qualifying and ultimately produced a 1m20.055s lap to take top spot.

Piastri’s first effort in SQ3 had already put him narrowly ahead of Norris by 0.044s, but Russell threatened both McLarens with an aggressive opening sector on his final run. The Mercedes driver found time throughout the lap and briefly moved into provisional pole with a 1m20.087s, only for Piastri to respond moments later by improving to his decisive 1m20.055s. Norris, meanwhile, was unable to match his earlier benchmark; a small slide and a dip into the gravel exiting the final corner left him on 1m20.285s, which still secured third on the grid.

Fernando Alonso delivered another strong one-lap showing for Aston Martin, his 1m20.450s placing him fourth, just ahead of Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver outqualified Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen by 0.009s, with Tsunoda’s 1m20.519s enough for fifth and Verstappen’s 1m20.528s leaving him sixth. Verstappen struggled with bouncing on the soft tyre and lost his first lap to an error, salvaging only one clean run at the end.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli produced an eventful session on his way to seventh with a 1m20.532s, just 0.01s ahead of Carlos Sainz’s 1m20.542s. Sainz continued Williams’ encouraging form as both FW47s reached SQ3, with Alex Albon completing the top ten thanks to his 1m20.788s tour. Charles Leclerc slotted into ninth for Ferrari with a 1m20.622s, unable to extract the same grip he had found in earlier phases of qualifying.

Several notable names missed the cut earlier. Lewis Hamilton was the most high-profile SQ1 casualty, managing only 16th after a final effort of 1m21.3 that was quickly eclipsed by improving midfield runners. His elimination came as Antonelli, Bearman, Ocon and Hadjar all improved late, the latter losing a time for track limits but still contributing to a reshuffled order that pushed Hamilton out.

Ollie Bearman finished 12th after a clean 1m21.0, ahead of the Sauber pair of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. Alpine endured a difficult session, with Esteban Ocon 15th and both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto eliminated in SQ1.

The 19-lap sprint race will take place on Saturday evening, with Piastri aiming to convert his strong single-lap pace into points as the title battle tightens.