All set for the Sprint Race of the Qatar GP, a mini-race that promises a show and precious points in the Constructors' Championship. After a lively Friday, with McLaren confirming its dominance in qualifying and Ferrari struggling, the spotlight is on the top 5, protagonists of a tight fight for victory.
Friday saw Lando Norris shine in qualification, taking pole ahead of George Russell and Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari struggled to keep up, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc fourth and fifth respectively. The fight for the World Championship Builders, however, will not be decided today: the 19 points up for grabs are not enough to mathematically guarantee victory for McLaren, leaving everything still open in view of Sunday's GP. However, the Sprint will be an opportunity to accumulate an advantage and put pressure on the pursuers.
Sprint Race Qatar, many opportunities starting
Temperatures at Losail proved to be much more bearable than last year's edition, when the oppressive heat had put the riders to the test. With the GP postponed by a month, teams and riders can approach the Sprint with a little more relief, even if the asphalt remains a tough challenge.
At the start, Lando Norris firmly maintains the lead with a flawless start, while George Russell immediately loses ground to Oscar Piastri, who takes second place. Lewis Hamilton gains two positions and moves to fifth place, taking advantage of a mistake by Carlos Sainz, whose Ferrari slides, temporarily blocking Charles Leclerc, who is demoted to sixth place. It's also a difficult start for Max Verstappen, who slips into ninth place, and for Lawson who climbs from tenth to seventeenth place.
Norris immediately sets the pace, gaining enough space to avoid giving DRS to Piastri, who finds himself under pressure from Russell. The duel between the two drivers is particularly heated, with positions exchanged and maneuvers at the limit. However, Piastri manages to maintain his position thanks to an impeccable defense.
McLaren dominates, but Russell doesn't give up
After the first five laps, the standings still see Norris in the lead, followed by Piastri, this time with DRS to defend himself from Russell. Carlos Sainz is fourth, ahead of Hamilton and Leclerc, while Nico Hülkenberg occupies the seventh position. The last driver in the points at the moment is Pierre Gasly, eighth, closing the group in the championship zone in this Sprint that only rewards the top eight.
With 8 laps to go, Leclerc lights up again, getting back under Hamilton to get that extra point in the constructors' perspective. For this reason, McLaren would not want to let Russell go by taking away the DRS, having Sainz behind him. In the meantime, Leclerc with an overtaking at the limit takes the position on Hamilton, regaining the starting position. A clash between future teammates.
With 5 laps to go, Piastri loses the DRS from Norris and Russell takes advantage of this to try again. Norris in the meantime signs the fastest lap. Pit stop for Perez, last after also changing the wing. Another disaster for the Mexican.
McLaren sprints to a double win but with Piastri first!
McLaren sprints to the checkered flag with Lando Norris who suddenly after having managed the entire Sprint in command allows himself the luxury, just before the finish line, of slowing down to give the victory to Oscar Piastri who therefore wins the Sprint in Qatar. With this one-two in the Sprint, the English team is 30 points ahead of Ferrari with the possibility of filing away the title tomorrow. Nothing to be done for Russell who comfortably sits on the podium, ahead of Sainz and Leclerc. Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Verstappen also score points.
Tomorrow everything is at stake, but before tomorrow there is still the qualification to be played. So the appointment is at 19:00
