Piastri takes pole for Qatar GP sprint, Norris third, Verstappen sixth

Lusail, Nov. 30: Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race on Friday, pushing his McLaren teammate Lando Norris into third place. A disgruntled Max Verstappen qualified only sixth.

Norris holds a 24-point lead in Formula 1 over both men, and may well be relieved that Verstappen will start Saturday's sprint race behind him. The winner gets eight points with the top eight scoring points.

"A day when things clicked," said Piastri, whose form has nosedived in the second part of the season. "It's nice to be back."

In-form Mercedes driver George Russell found a late burst to qualify second. Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso was fourth and Yuki Tsunoda — Verstappen's Red Bull teammate — was fifth in a season where he has struggled badly.

Verstappen was frustrated throughout the sprint qualifying. He complained of understeer and also said his car was bouncing, a problem he encountered earlier Friday in the race's only practice session.

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton's miserable form continued when he was eliminated from SQ1, the first part of sprint qualifying.

Saturday's 19-lap sprint is followed by night-time qualifying for the main race on Sunday, the penultimate race of the season.

Although Verstappen's brilliant comeback in recent weeks has given the Dutchman a glimpse of a fifth straight crown, Norris has a good lead and can seal his first F1 title on Sunday.

Verstappen's 69 race wins put him third all-time behind Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (105). The dynamic Dutchman is already considered one of the best F1 drivers ever and his late charge this season was aided by the disqualification of both McLaren drivers following the Las Vegas GP last Sunday, a race he won.

Norris lost the 18 points he earned from crossing the line in second place, and Piastri the 12 from initially placing fourth.

"Of course it hurts. But actually I found it quite easy just to move on," said Norris, who this season found himself lagging behind a dominant Piastri. 

"I feel as relaxed as I was before, when I was 35 points behind (Piastri), and I feel the same when I'm 24 points ahead."

Norris will clinch the F1 title if he scores at least two more points than Verstappen and Piastri across the weekend. (AP)