A great team work for McLaren as Piastri took victory in Qatar Sprint as Norris reverses positions on last corner in McLaren one-two

“We’ve had a positive day in Qatar, first securing maximum points in the Sprint with a one-two finish, and then qualifying third and fourth, which puts us in a good position for the race”, said Team Principal Andrea Stella at the chequered flag

The Race
Oscar Piastri has claimed victory in the Sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix after team mate Lando Norris – who had led the event throughout – pulled over to let his fellow McLaren driver through at the very last moment, seemingly paying the Australian back for their previous switch during the Sprint event in Sao Paulo.

After making a strong launch from pole position when Saturday’s event got under way at the Lusail International Circuit, Norris sailed into the lead from the off while Piastri soon took P2 from George Russell, with the scrap between the second McLaren and the Mercedes playing out for much of the 19-lap dash.

Piastri managed to hold onto second place throughout – before that became P1 in the dying seconds when Norris pulled aside just before the chequered flag to allow his team mate through, giving the 23-year-old another Qatar Sprint win after taking victory in the same event last year.

Russell had to settle for third, while Carlos Sainz was close behind in fourth for Ferrari ahead of team mate Charles Leclerc, who had won out in a thrilling battle with Lewis Hamilton. This put the seven-time world champion in sixth, and Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen rounded out the points-paying positions in seventh and eighth respectively.

After just one practice session on Friday, Sprint Qualifying had decided the grid for the final 100km dash of the season, a format that awards points to the top eight finishers from a maximum of eight for P1 down to one for P8.

Photo courtesy of McLaren F1 Team