Mercedes driver George Russell has been promoted to pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was penalised one place for impeding his rival, the FIA has announced.
Verstappen started sixth and finished only eighth in the earlier sprint race won by Oscar Piastri as McLaren edged closer to their first constructors’ title in 26 years.
But the Dutch driver returned to form for qualifying for Sunday’s 57-lap main event by seeing off Mercedes’ George Russell by just 0.055 seconds to take both his and Red Bull’s first pole since Austria exactly five months ago.
However, at 1:06 local time, more than three hours after qualifying ended, it was confirmed that Verstappen had been penalised one place for impeding Russell as both drivers geared up for their final laps.
Lando Norris, who handed team-mate Piastri victory in the sprint race earlier on Saturday – with McLaren securing a one-two finish to move 30 points clear of Ferrari – remains third, 0.252sec back.
F1 QATAR GRAND PRIX – LATEST UPDATES
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The race in Qatar on Sunday starts at 4pm (GMT)
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Max Verstappen stripped of pole position with George Russell promoted
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Verstappen penalised one place for impending Russell, FIA announces
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Oscar Piastri given sprint race win on Saturday by Lando Norris on final corner
BREAKING: Max Verstappen stripped of pole position
22:27 , Jamie Braidwood
Mercedes driver George Russell has been promoted to pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was penalised one place for impeding his rival, the FIA has announced.
Explaining their decision, the stewards said Max Verstappen was “driving unnecessarily slowly considering the circumstances” as he “attempted to cool his tyres” ahead of the lap in which he claimed pole.
Max Verstappen stripped of Qatar GP pole as FIA explains verdict
22:44 , Jamie Braidwood
Max Verstappen has been stripped of his pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix to elevate George Russell to top spot on the grid for the penultimate round of the season.
Verstappen looked to have scored his first pole in five months after he edged out Mercedes’ Russell by just 0.055 seconds at the Lusail International Circuit.
However, at 1:06 local time (10:06pm GMT), more than three hours after qualifying ended, it was confirmed that Verstappen had been penalised one place for impeding Russell as both drivers geared up for their final laps.
The sanction promoted Russell, who took a lights-to-flag victory in Las Vegas a week ago, to the front of the grid for Sunday’s 57-lap race.
Max Verstappen stripped of Qatar GP pole as FIA explains verdict
Max Verstappen stripped of pole position
22:31 , Jamie Braidwood
Explaining their decision, the stewards said Max Verstappen was “driving unnecessarily slowly considering the circumstances” as he “attempted to cool his tyres” ahead of the lap in which he claimed pole.
Driver Standings ahead of Qatar Grand Prix
22:30 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen – 404 points (champion)
2. Lando Norris – 347 points
3. Charles Leclerc – 323 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 276 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 264 points
6. George Russell – 223 points
7. Lewis Hamilton – 211 points
8. Sergio Perez – 152 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg – 37 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda – 30 points
12. Pierre Gasly – 26 points
13. Lance Stroll – 24 points
14. Esteban Ocon – 23 points
15. Kevin Magnussen – 14 points
16. Alex Albon – 12 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo – 12 points
18. Ollie Bearman – 7 points
19. Franco Colapinto – 5 points
20. Liam Lawson – 4 points
21. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying P6….
22:12 , Kieran Jackson
“Indeed.
“I can’t explain why I’m half-a-second off my teammate, it’s never happened before in my career. The car felt generally fine for me. There’s not much more I can add.
“I’m hoping with the changes we made we will have a bit more pace tomorrow.”
Constructors’ Championship ahead of Qatar Grand Prix:
21:30 , Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren – 623 points
2. Ferrari – 593 points
3. Red Bull Racing – 556 points
4. Mercedes – 434 points
5. Aston Martin – 86 points
6. Haas – 52 points
7. Alpine – 49 points
8. RB – 46 points
9. Williams – 17 points
10. Sauber – 0 points
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after qualifying P5…
21:11 , Kieran Jackson
“I felt like I did a really good job, both laps on the limit, but it was just not enough. We have to maximise the points on a weekend which has been difficult for us. Everything to play for in the race tomorrow.”
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Sergio Perez after qualifying P9…
20:30 , Kieran Jackson
“We made some good progress, which is positive. I hope that tomorrow we will have the pace in the race, we want to be scoring some good points.
“Hope we can go through the pack, the direction we went with the car was promising.”
What time is the Qatar Grand Prix?
19:49 , Kieran Jackson
Time GMT
Sunday 1 December
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Max Verstappen after finishing on pole…
19:48 , Kieran Jackson
“Crazy! I did not expect that, well done to the team to give me a car which feels a bit more connected. I felt a lot better about there.
“We changed a bit on the car but I never thought it would make such a swing in performance. It felt a lot more stable over one lap. Very happy to be on pole, it’s been a while.
“It’s going to be a tough race physically and on the tyres. It’s all about managing that. It’s all very close behind, they were all quick.”
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: George Russell after qualifying second..
19:35 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s been a great run, the last four qualifyings we’ve been on the front row everyone! Feeling in a groove at the moment, my first lap was one of the best I’ve ever done. Max pipped me, but the car has been so great the last two weekends.
On being blocked by Max: “I went through the gravel, hope it didn’t damage the floor. It was a hairy one two corners before we start the lap.”
“These have been great races for us. Pace in Vegas was true, the pace this weekend is real – it’s nice to be in the mix once again.”
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Max Verstappen under investigation
19:27 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell believes Verstappen held him up, dangerously, on an out-lap.
It looked a bit close for comfort… but I think the Red Bull man should be fine!
Here’s the incident below:
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Lando Norris after qualifying P3…
19:23 , Kieran Jackson
“Not the position we were hoping for but the maximum we could do, for sure. My lap was pretty good but just not quick enough.
“Everyone saw how close it was between all of us, not a lot in it! We showed good racepace today, I was in clean air, but I expect a tougher race tomorrow.”
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: TOP-10 IN QUALIFYING
19:12 , Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen – 1:20:520
2. George Russell – +0.055
3. Lando Norris – +0.252
4. Oscar Piastri – +0.309
5. Charles Leclerc – +0.332
6. Lewis Hamilton – +0.491
7. Carlos Sainz – +0.521
8. Fernando Alonso – +0.731
9. Sergio Perez – +0.905
10. Kevin Magnussen – +0.980
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Max Verstappen on pole position!
19:03 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen claims pole! By less than a tenth to George Russell!
Bit of a shock and a turnaround from earlier today! His first pole since Austria in June!
3-10: Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Alonso, Perez, Magnussen
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Norris backs off again!
18:59 , Kieran Jackson
Confirmed: Norris will just have one more shot then!
Final quali laps coming right up here!
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Max Verstappen goes P2!
18:56 , Kieran Jackson
Verstappen goes quicker ahead of the final laps, to go second, just half-a-tenth down on Russell…
And Norris is actually going to go for two hot laps here!
4:00 to go in Q3…
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: George Russell on provisional pole!
18:54 , Kieran Jackson
Russell sets the timesheet alight, to go fastest by three-tenths to Charles Leclerc – with Lewis Hamilton in third!
4-10: Sainz, Piastri, Magnussen, Perez, Verstappen, Norris, Alonso
Lando Norris opted to dive into the pits on his hot lap after almost losing it at turn 5! He’ll only have one more chance for pole…
6:00 to go in Q1…
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Q3 underway!
18:47 , Kieran Jackson
Time for the top-10 shootout – who will be on pole position in Qatar?!
10 drivers involved: Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso, Magnussen
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Sergio Perez just sneaks through!
18:42 , Kieran Jackson
Perez is through by 0.012 seconds to Pierre Gasly!
Lewis Hamilton was P5 in the end!
Bottom-five and out in Q2 (11-15): Gasly, Zhou, Bottas, Tsunoda, Stroll
Top-3: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Lewis Hamilton can’t improve
18:37 , Kieran Jackson
Hamilton stays in ninth after his second lap – will he need to go quicker?
Possibly so.
Current bottom-five (11-15): Bottas, Zhou, Tsunoda, Stroll, Alonso
Top-3: Norris, Verstappen, Russell
3:00 to go in Q2…
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Fernando Alonso has a lap deleted
18:33 , Kieran Jackson
For exceeding track limits, Alonso’s lap is deleted – and he is P15 as a result.
Current bottom-five (11-15): Bottas, Zhou, Tsunoda, Stroll, Alonso
Lewis Hamilton not safe yet in P9, while Pierre Gasly impresses in P6 for Alpine!
7:00 to go in Q2…
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Q2 underway!
18:25 , Kieran Jackson
Time for the second phase of qualifying – 15 minutes where again we will lose the slowest five drivers before the top-10 shootout!
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Alex Albon is out in Q1!
18:21 , Kieran Jackson
Alex Albon knocked out right at the end by Yuki Tsunoda in a breathless end to Q1!
Nico Hulkenberg, who scored points in the sprint earlier, a surprise name in the bottom-five too!
Bottom-five and out in Q1: Albon, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Ocon
Top-3: Russell, Leclerc, Sainz
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Alex Albon heading out!
18:15 , Kieran Jackson
The Williams driver needs a quick lap in the closing stages of Q1 here…
Current bottom-five (16-20): Hulkenberg, Albon, Zhou, Colapinto, Ocon
Top-3: Russell, Sainz, Norris
Sergio Perez living typically precariously in P11..
4:00 to go. Times continue to tumble…
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: George Russell quickest early on!
18:09 , Kieran Jackson
Russell looking to set the tone straight away as he goes quickest by two-tenths to Max Verstappen in second.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Zhou, Lawson, Colapinto, Gasly, Ocon
Plenty of time for the bottom-five to change yet!
10:00 to go in Q1…
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Q1 underway
18:00 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell the first car out on track at the start of Q1 in Lusail!
A reminder: 18 minutes where we will lose the slowest five drivers from the rest of qualifying.
Russell on medium tyres straight away, presumably to wear them in ahead of the race tomorrow.
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Track conditions!
17:59 , Kieran Jackson
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19C temperature
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22C track temperature
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60% humidity
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Windspeed: 12.2km/h
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Qualifying!
17:55 , Kieran Jackson
So… who we backing today?!
McLaren have set the early pace so far this weekend with sprint pole and race win, but can Ferrari, Mercedes and a below-par Red Bull respond?
Qualifying at the Lusail International Circuit is coming up in five minutes!
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Qualifying odds!
17:42 , Kieran Jackson
Pole position odds:
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Lando Norris – 8/11
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Oscar Piastri – 4/1
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George Russell – 6/1
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Charles Leclerc – 9/1
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Carlos Sainz – 10/1
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Max Verstappen – 12/1
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Lewis Hamilton – 16/1
Lewis Hamilton very downbeat after the Qatar sprint:
17:13 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen after finishing the sprint in 8th:
16:44 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s very bad this weekend so far” 💬
Max Verstappen doesn’t think the car has enough pace to keep up with the frontrunners this weekend 👇 pic.twitter.com/rjgwg4N4mv
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 30, 2024
What are the start times in Qatar?
15:54 , Kieran Jackson
All times GMT
Saturday 30 November
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Qualifying: 6pm
Sunday 1 December
SPRINT REPORT: Lando Norris hands Oscar Piastri victory as McLaren take one-two in Qatar GP sprint
15:50 , Kieran Jackson
Oscar Piastri won the sprint race in Qatar ahead of team-mate Lando Norris as McLaren closed in on a first constructors’ title in 26 years.
Much has been made of Norris’ lacklustre starts this season but the British driver blasted away from pole before playing the team game to help Piastri.
Norris then moved over for Piastri at the final bend after they traded positions in Brazil earlier this month.
George Russell finished third, while Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were fourth and fifth respectively for Ferrari.
McLaren, who last won the team title in 1998, now hold a 30-point lead over Ferrari with 88 points to play for over the final two races.
Full report below:
Lando Norris hands Oscar Piastri victory as McLaren take one-two in Qatar GP sprint
VIDEO: End of the Qatar GP sprint!
15:05 , Kieran Jackson
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: George Russell, after finishing third…
14:56 , Kieran Jackson
“It was very close going into turn one on a couple of occasions, it was frustrating for Lando giving the DRS to Oscar. It was pretty infuriating!
“Q3 this afternoon is going to be the important one.”
TOP-8 IN THE QATAR GP SPRINT:
14:46 , Kieran Jackson
1. Oscar Piastri
2. Lando Norris
3. George Russell
4. Carlos Sainz
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Nico Hulkenberg
8. Max Verstappen
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Oscar Piastri on team radio
14:38 , Kieran Jackson
“Appreciate the teamwork!” says Piastri.
I bet he does!
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Oscar Piastri wins the sprint race!
14:32 , Kieran Jackson
Unbelievable!
Lando Norris gifts Oscar Piastri the victory at the last corner! He gives back the sprint win given to him in Brazil so Piastri takes first place in Qatar!
Russell takes third!
4-8: Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Verstappen
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Piastri holds on to second! (Lap 19/19)
14:30 , Kieran Jackson
Crucial!
Piastri holds second at turn one of the final lap – and it’s unlikely that Russell will get another chance on this lap!
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: George Russell still right on the tail of Oscar Piastri (Lap 17/19)
14:29 , Kieran Jackson
But the Mercedes still can’t find a way through, with Piastri still getting the aid of DRS from Norris!
A few more laps to hold on!
Top-10: Norris, Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Verstappen
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