Lando Norris secured pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint after a commanding performance under the floodlights at the Lusail International Circuit.
The McLaren driver topped all three segments of Sprint qualifying, setting a fastest time of 1:21.012.
Mercedes’ George Russell, fresh from his Las Vegas victory, claimed second place, just 0.063 seconds behind Norris.
McLaren’s impressive showing continued with Oscar Piastri taking third position, 0.159 seconds off his teammate’s pace, narrowly missing out on giving the team a front-row lockout.
Lando Norris has come out on top in the sprint event in Qatar
reuters
McLaren’s strong qualifying performance marks another crucial moment in their battle with Ferrari for the constructors’ championship, where they currently hold a 24-point advantage with two rounds remaining.
Ferrari’s challenge fell short, with Carlos Sainz qualifying fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth, both unable to match the pace of the McLarens.
The Maranello team had shown promising speed in the earlier practice session but failed to mount a serious challenge for pole position when it mattered.
McLaren’s impressive form puts them in a strong position to extend their lead as they chase their first constructors’ title since 1998.
McLaren’s performance was particularly impressive, with Norris dominating throughout the session, including a remarkable 1:22.785 in the early stages that put him half a second clear of his rivals.
The British driver’s consistency was evident as he maintained his advantage through all qualifying segments.
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Piastri showed strong pace despite pushing the limits, at one point grazing the new gravel traps and requesting his team check for floor damage.
The McLaren duo’s performance was even more notable as they outpaced newly-crowned four-time champion Max Verstappen, who could only manage sixth position, 0.303 seconds behind Norris.
Sergio Perez’s struggles continued in Qatar as the Red Bull driver was eliminated in SQ1, qualifying a disappointing 16th position.
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The top three were separated by nanoseconds
Reuters
This marks the Mexican’s seventh Q1/SQ1 exit of the season, highlighting his ongoing difficulties in the Red Bull car.
Perez finished just 0.003 seconds behind Williams’ Alexander Albon, who claimed the final spot in SQ2.
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George Russell narrowly missed out on top spot
Reuters
The result stands in stark contrast to his teammate Verstappen’s performance, with the gap between the Red Bull drivers spanning 10 positions on the grid.
With no apparent end to his qualifying woes in sight, Perez faces another challenging Sprint race from the back of the midfield.