Oscar Piastri continued his strong weekend at the Qatar GP by claiming a vital pole position for Sunday’s race, edging out teammate Lando Norris and title rival Max Verstappen. With the top three locked in, Piastri keeps championship hopes alive as the season heads to its final rounds.
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Q1
After the first flying laps, the top five were Piastri, Russell, Alonso, Verstappen, and Tsunoda. Alonso improved to second position on his second run.
With about eight minutes remaining, Hadjar and Gasly temporarily topped the timesheets with 1:20.6 and 1:20.7, but Norris responded with a 1:20.157, putting Piastri in P2 and Russell in P3. The top three remained unchanged, while Lewis Hamilton was again eliminated in Q1.
Tsunoda was eliminated despite being only three-tenths slower than Verstappen’s P4 time, showing just how tight Q1 was.
Out: Tsunoda, Ocon, Hamilton, Stroll, Colapinto
Q2
The start of Q2 was slightly delayed as marshals cleared debris from the track.
Verstappen set the fastest lap of 1:20.142 on a double-out lap attempt. Piastri immediately improved by half a second, while Norris had put in a lap that was slightly shy of Verstappen’s best lap before his time was deleted for leaving the track. On his next attempt, Norris climbed to second, securing his place in Q3.
Out: Hulkenberg, Lawson, Bearman, Bortoleto, Albon
Q3
In the final stage, Verstappen attempted another double-out lap, but Norris set the pace with a 1:19.495. Piastri was just 0.035 seconds slower, with Russell third, 0.347 behind. Verstappen was nearly half a second off the top.
Leclerc spun after running over a curb, while Sainz collected a large piece of garage floor covering from the Williams box that had come loose and it caused a red flag for cleanup at 5:27 remaining in the session. On the final attempt, Norris made a mistake, and Piastri claimed pole with a lap more than a tenth faster.
Top 3: Piastri, Norris, Verstappen.
The rest of the top 10 included Russell, Antonelli, Hadjar, Sainz, Alonso, Gasly, and Leclerc.
Piastri’s pole gives him a strategic advantage for the main race. Norris and Verstappen remain close, keeping the championship fight tense heading into race day at Lusail International Circuit.
The full results of the qualifying according to FIA.com:
