A “sketchy” move by Lando Norris, pulling over on the final straight to gift team-mate Oscar Piastri victory in the Qatar sprint race, ultimately ended happily for McLaren as they secured a one-two to close in on their first constructors’ title since 1998.
Norris’ gesture – payback for Piastri’s assistance in Sao Paulo where the Australian pulled over to help Norris’ drivers’ championship attempt – was actually forbidden by McLaren, who felt the gap from Piastri to George Russell behind him in third, at just 0.3sec, was too tight to risk.
But Norris disregarded the instruction from his team as he felt it was “the right thing to do.” “It was probably a bit sketchy,” he said, smiling. “The team told me not to do it but I felt I could. I’ve been wanting to do it since Brazil.”
Norris had already helped Piastri stay in P2 by dropping back during the 19-lap race to give him a DRS slipstream.
Russell was third, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz fourth and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton just losing out in a tense battle with future Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc for fifth.
McLaren now lead Ferrari by 30 points in the constructors’ championship heading into Sunday’s race. They need a lead of 45 points by the end of the Qatar weekend to wrap up the constructors’ title this week, otherwise it will roll on to the final race in Abu Dhabi next week.
03:09 PM GMT
We will be back for the main race qualifying
That begins at 6pm so we will be here from around 5pm so just under two hours. Some work to do for a few teams, especially Red Bull.
03:05 PM GMT
Verstappen unhappy with his car balance
“I just tried to stay out of trouble. I was just sliding everywhere, having a lot of weird moments and weird snaps. No balance on entry, no balance mid corner. I could not even catch Nico [Hulkenberg] really. That says enough for us, it’s really bad.”
03:04 PM GMT
McLaren obviously not too bothered that Norris moved over
Even if they did not want it to happen at the time.
1-2 in the #F1Sprint! Classy move from Lando to return the favour and give Oscar the Sprint win! 👏 Excellent teamwork throughout to hold off Russell too. We’re showing great pace ahead of Quali. Let’s keep it up! 👊 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/fxGoHNBSu8
— Zak Brown (@ZBrownCEO) November 30, 2024
02:55 PM GMT
Norris made that decision to let Piastri through on his own, then
Throughout the whole race Norris backed up to let his team-mate have DRS to defend from Russell. Team principal Andrea Stella speaks about the situation to Sky Sports F1.
“When it comes to the swap at the end, Lando was very willing to return to the favour that Oscar did to him in Brazil. We actually wanted to release the pressure off Lando, but saying that we are happy to finish in this order but Lando managed to find the opportunity to return the favour.
“We were nervous on the pit wall because Russell was very close. The drivers when in the car judge a situation more precisely than us on the pit wall. That’s cohesion, that’s unity to be honest I am very proud of Lando and Oscar.”
02:50 PM GMT
Updated constructor standings
McLaren take another step to the constructors’ title. They now need to increase their lead over Ferrari by 15 points tomorrow to secure the constructors’ title this weekend. A 1-2 tomorrow would confirm that, whatever Ferrari does. Obviously there are many other permutations but it is looking good so far for them.
02:45 PM GMT
Updated driver standings
02:43 PM GMT
This was great to watch from Hamilton and Leclerc
02:41 PM GMT
Race winner Oscar Piastri
“It was about defence for the whole race to be honest. Just didn’t quite have the pace, I killed the front early on. I was struggling a bit for the rest of the sprint. Some good teamwork… nice to have a McLaren 1-2.”
02:40 PM GMT
Norris speaks after his second place
“We scored 1-2, that is what we were aiming for today. The pace was good. I think I could have pushed a bit more than what I was doing. We did our job and that’s the main thing. It was probably a bit closer than I thought but I planned to do it since Brazil. The team told me not to do it but I thought I could get away with it and we did. I’m not here to win sprint races, I’m here to win races and the championship, though that’s not gone to plan.”
02:38 PM GMT
George Russell reacts after a frustrating third place
“It got pretty close in turn one a couple of times. It was so frustrating every lap, Lando backing up every lap to give Oscar the DRS. I understand why they did that.. but it’s pretty infuriating. It would have been good to go head to head with Lando just to see what the true pace would have been.”
02:34 PM GMT
Qatar GP sprint – Top eight
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PIA 8pts
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NOR 7pts
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RUS 6pts
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SAI 5pts
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LEC 4pts
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HAM 3pts
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HUL 2pts
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VER 1pt
All three drivers within half a second.
02:33 PM GMT
OSCAR PIASTRI WINS THE 2024 QATAR GRAND PRIX SPRINT
It looks like Norris is going to take the chequered flag first but he moves aside at the line to let his team-mate win!
Remember, Piastri let Norris win the sprint in Brazil to help Briton’s drivers’ title attempt. Either way it’s maximum points for McLaren and nine for Ferrari so they move to 30 points ahead of Ferrari. Good work.
02:31 PM GMT
FINAL LAP
Norris leads Piastri, Russell and Sainz. Russell tries to dive up the inside but cannot make the move stick and that will probably be that, barring a Piastri mistake…
Norris looks likely to take an easy win…
02:30 PM GMT
Lap 18 of 19 – Russell thinks about a move
But he was too far behind to really make any meaningful overtaking manoeuvre. Norris now leads Piastri by 1.5sec. Is he just trying to focus on his own race now?
02:28 PM GMT
Lap 17 of 19 – McLaren holding on here
Well, Piastri is anyway… just about. The gaps have stretched out a bit at among the leaders. Will that be enough to save Piastri?
02:27 PM GMT
Lap 16 of 19 – Norris leads Piastri, Russell, Sainz and Leclerc
Verstappen is not really making any inroads into Nico Hulkenberg in seventh. Sainz is joining the fight in the top four, so this could get interesting.
02:25 PM GMT
Lap 15 of 19 – Norris has hung back a bit
Again to try and give Piastri DRS to aid him in his fight with Russell for second. This is only a sprint race, yes, but the points are valuable to McLaren.
“I’m starting to struggle with the front, so do I save him or?” Yes, help him he says.
Verstappen remains eighth. Perez pits for a new front wing from 19th… not because he’s broken his original one but just to see how it performs, I guess.
02:24 PM GMT
Lap 14 of 19 – Russell close to Piastri now
Russell tries a move up the inside of turn one but Piastri blocks him. A late move across to the inside from the McLaren. Dodgy move? Piastri has now dropped back to 1.7sec behind Norris.
“F— me mate, that was late!” Russell says. “Twice now!”
On replay I think it was probably OK.
02:23 PM GMT
Lap 13 of 19 – Leclerc and Hamilton touch
They go side-by-side throughout turns one, two three and four! A bit of rubbing! Well done both men. Hamilton comes back but cannot make a move stick. Leclerc had DRS and went up the inside with a late braking move, Hamilton was able to hang it around the outside for a looong time but not long enough.
02:21 PM GMT
Lap 12 of 19 – Leclerc chasing down Hamilton
0.5sec in it at the moment and the Ferrari looks the quicker car. Team-mates next year. Verstappen in eighth but isn’t making a great impression into Hulkenberg.
02:20 PM GMT
Lap 11 of 19 – Norris leads Piastri by 0.6sec
The top few are very close but there have been few signs of any challenges in the last few laps.
02:18 PM GMT
Lap 10 of 19 – Top eight and gaps
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NOR
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PIA +0.6
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RUS +1.2
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SAI +1.9
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HAM +3.0
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LEC +3.9
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HUL +7.2
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VER +9.0
02:17 PM GMT
Lap 9 of 19 – Russell has a look
Not as big a move as the one a couple of laps ago but not far off. Verstappen now the fastest man on track as he chases down Hulkenberg.
02:16 PM GMT
Lap 8 of 19 – Verstappen no longer in ninth
He dives up the inside of Gasly at turn one to move into eighth. Norris is indeed trying to help out Piastri, his team-mate, behind by giving him use of DRS. Is it a dangerous game? Slightly. Piastri under pressure again as they enter the final straight and Russell sets the fastest lap of the race.
02:14 PM GMT
Lap 7 of 19 – Verstappen still in ninth
The lead three cars are very close as the end the lap…
02:14 PM GMT
Lap 6 of 19 – Norris leads Piastri by 0.7sec
Leclerc has become a bit detached from the lead group, he is 1.8sec behind Hamilton but has just set the fastest lap.
02:12 PM GMT
Lap 5 of 19 – Sainz now within DRS range of Russell ahead
Norris’s lead now down to one second. I think he might be trying to give him some help with DRS. Russell is kind of closing on them both now, though. 2.8sec separates the top five drivers.
02:11 PM GMT
Lap 4 of 19 – Russell dives down the inside!
With DRS he goes up the inside of turn one but Piastri says “no mate” and goes around the outside on the exit of the corner to keep the place. Russell later complains that Piastri turned into him but I would certainly need another look.
Verstappen still down in ninth, so has not made any further progress. “Oversteer is an understatment,” he said during the first lap.
02:08 PM GMT
Lap 3 of 19 – Russell gets close
But not quite close enough to try a move at turn one on Piastri. If he can stay close then next lap could be an option. Piastri not quite within DRS range of team-mate and leader Norris.
Here’s the top 10:
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NOR
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PIA
-
RUS
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SAI
-
HAM
-
LEC
-
HUL
-
GAS
-
VER
-
ALO
02:07 PM GMT
Lap 2 of 19 – Norris leads Piastri by 1.1sec
Liam Lawson had an awful start, down to 17th…
Russell is within DRS range of Piastri and it will be soon that DRS will be available.
Russell uses DRS on the pit straight to close up at turn one…
02:06 PM GMT
THE 2024 QATAR GRAND PRIX SPRINT IS GO!
It’s a good start for Norris who leads Russell into the first corner and Piastri comes through to make it a McLaren 1-2! Piastri runs off track at turn six slightly which allows Russell to close up and gives Norris a 1.2sec lead after half a lap.
Verstappen has dropped back to ninth from sixth. Not sure what happened to him there.
Norris, Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Verstappen and Alonso make the top 10.
02:02 PM GMT
The formation lap is go
Russell gets away ahead of Norris but then Norris goes around the outside as he is let through again. Norris has had a few dodgy starts this season, can he make a good one today?
01:54 PM GMT
We are nearly ready to get going in Qatar
Predictions? I think a Norris-led McLaren one-two. Russell third, Leclerc fourth, Verstappen fifth.
01:47 PM GMT
Conditions in Qatar
#F1 #BBCF1 #QATARGP SPRINT: With 15 mins to the start, air temp is 21.4C & the track 26.4C. Wind from the NW; during the past hour, gusts to 27mph but these are now gradually decreasing through the evening. Dry; FIA official risk of rain is 0%.
— Ian Fergusson (@fergieweather) November 30, 2024
A little gusty out there at the moment.
01:44 PM GMT
Qatar GP sprint race: starting grid
1. NOR 2. RUS
3. PIA 4. SAI
5. LEC 6. VER
7. HAM 8. GAS
9. HUL 10. LAW
11. ALO 12. ALB
13. BOT 14. STR
15. MAG 16. TSU
17. OCO 18. ZHO
PIT LANE: PER, COL
01:39 PM GMT
How the 2025 grid looks
Still one slot at RB to fill, though arguably there is one to fill at Red Bull too…
01:27 PM GMT
A reminder of the constructors’ standings
01:25 PM GMT
News: Perez and Colapinto to start from pit lane in sprint
Both drivers have made changes to their suspension under parc ferme regulations, so will start from the pit lane. Not much to lose and it will give the teams some data for qualifying later today and the main race tomorrow.
01:12 PM GMT
Positions and times after sprint qualifying
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Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1min 21.012secs
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George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:21.075
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Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1:21.171
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Carlos Sainz Jr (Spa) Ferrari 1:21.281
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Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:21.308
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Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:21.315
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Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:21.474
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Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1:21.978
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Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Haas F1 1:22.088
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Liam Lawson (Nzl) RB 1:22.577
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Fernando Alonso (Spa) Aston Martin 1:22.433
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Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1:22.526
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Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Kick Sauber 1:22.538
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Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1:22.599
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Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:22.738
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Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1:22.718
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Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) RB 1:22.722
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Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1:22.906
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Guanyu Zhou (Chn) Kick Sauber 1:22.948
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Franco Colapinto (Arg) Williams 1:23.423
01:05 PM GMT
Hamilton: ‘I’m just slow’
It was another poor qualifying session for Lewis Hamilton yesterday and there have been plenty of them in 2024. He now trails team-mate George Russell 22-6 in a combination of sprint and main qualifying sessions this season. This is what he had to say after ending up in seventh, five places and nearly four-tenths behind his team-mate.
“I’m definitely not fast any more. Same as every other qualifying, not that great, I’m just slow and same every weekend. So yeah, car felt relatively decent. No, no issues, and not really much more to say.”
12:59 PM GMT
Good afternoon
Welcome to our Saturday coverage for the Qatar Grand Prix, which is the sixth and final of the sprint weekends in 2024. So far we have had one practice session and sprint qualifying, with McLaren’s Lando Norris coming out on top in the latter with a lap that was less than a tenth of a second faster than the lead Mercedes of George Russell, who put in another strong showing.
For a while it looked as if the Ferraris would be able to compete for pole, confounding their pre-weekend expectations. Yet Sainz and Leclerc ended around two and three tenths of a second away from Norris’s ultimate pace in fourth and fifth. The second McLaren of Oscar Piastri was a tenth and a half away from his team-mate’s time, which will boost his team’s hopes of winning the constructors’ championship.
Norris can no longer take the drivers’ championship (something that had been on the cards for a little while) but it would be McLaren’s first constructors’ title since 1998 and their first F1 title of any kind since 2008. They currently lead Ferrari by 24 points and extending that looks on the cards, though far from certain, this weekend going on current performance.
They can secure that title this weekend, but would need to leave the weekend with a 45-point advantage over Ferrari. It is throwing it forward significantly, of course, but if they were to finish the sprint where they start and repeat the same in the main race, then McLaren would leave Lusail with the championship, scoring 54 points to Ferrari’s 31, increasing their advantage by either 22, 23 or 24 points depending on where the fastest lap goes. So it is certainly doable.
Red Bull, who are mathematically still in the constructors’ title fight had another off session, with Max Verstappen in sixth and Sergio Perez way down in 16th. You really struggle to see how the Mexican will be able to line up with Red Bull at the start of next year given his performances have shown zero uptick.
Anyway, the sprint race itself starts at 2pm with qualifying for the main race at 6pm GMT. We will be here for all of the build-up, live updates and reaction from both.
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