Lusail, Qatar – Oscar Piastri dominated the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, claiming a comfortable victory for McLaren. Piastri's performance marked his first win since the Dutch Grand Prix in August, providing a significant boost to his title aspirations. Mercedes' George Russell finished second, while Piastri's McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, secured third place after fending off a challenge from Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Piastri started from pole position and maintained his lead throughout the 19-lap race at the Lusail International Circuit. Norris, who started third, faced early pressure from Verstappen but managed to hold his position. The result sees Norris maintain his lead in the championship standings, albeit with Piastri closing the gap.
"It's been a good weekend so far," Piastri said after the race. "Everything went smoothly in the Sprint there, so I'm happy with how it's been so far and just need to keep it rolling". He also noted the track's high-speed nature and high grip levels, adding, "It's a track I've enjoyed in the past, and I'm enjoying it again, clearly". This victory marks Piastri's third sprint win, all of which have occurred at the Qatar GP.
Verstappen, who started sixth after struggling with his car's setup in sprint qualifying, gained two places at the start to move up to fourth. However, he was unable to maintain the pace of the leading McLarens and ultimately finished behind Norris. Verstappen complained about bouncing issues during the race, which hindered his progress.
Norris's third-place finish was crucial for his championship hopes. He now leads Piastri by 22 points with two races remaining in the season. Verstappen is a further three points behind Norris, intensifying the battle for the title. Norris needs to be 26 points ahead of both Piastri and Verstappen after the main race on Sunday to seal the championship, or 25 points ahead if he wins the race. If neither of these scenarios occur, the title will be decided at the final round in Abu Dhabi.
Yuki Tsunoda initially finished fifth but received a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. This penalty, however, did not affect his finishing position as Kimi Antonelli also received a post-race penalty. Fernando Alonso finished seventh, while Carlos Sainz Jr. claimed the final point in eighth.
The race was particularly challenging for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc finishing 13th. Lewis Hamilton's struggles continued as he finished in 17th place.
The Qatar Grand Prix sprint race has set the stage for an exciting main race, with significant implications for the championship battle. The performance of Piastri has closed the gap to Norris, while Verstappen will be looking to bounce back after a difficult sprint race.
