Oscar Piastri closed the gap on Lando Norris in the Formula 1 World Championship after winning the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix. Starting from pole, Piastri delivered a commanding performance under the bright lights of the Lusail International Circuit, claiming victory by 4.9 seconds and cutting Norris' championship lead to just 22 points with 50 still available this weekend.
Lando Norris finished in third place, remaining within striking distance at the top of the standings. Max Verstappen, who started further back, impressively gained two positions to finish fourth, now trailing Norris by 25 points. George Russell secured second place, holding his starting position throughout the 19-lap sprint.
Norris holds the power to clinch the World Championship title in Sunday’s main race. If he scores at least four points more than Piastri and finishes ahead of Verstappen in any position, he will be crowned champion—meaning a victory on Sunday would seal the deal for the British driver.
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Qualifying saw a rare mistake by Norris in the closing moments, allowing Piastri to take pole position. The Australian made the most of the opportunity, executing a flawless start and controlling the sprint race with precision to record his first win since the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.
At the start, Norris narrowly avoided contact with Russell while Verstappen made strong early moves, overtaking Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda to advance through the field. Behind the wheel, Norris fended off Verstappen’s attempts to pressure him, expanding his lead to over one second once the Red Bull driver expressed frustration with his car’s handling via the radio.
The sprint unfolded without major incidents, setting up a tense Sunday race where every point will matter. Lewis Hamilton struggled once again, starting 18th and finishing 17th, a distant 46 seconds behind Piastri, continuing a difficult weekend for Mercedes.
Qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix is scheduled for 21:00 local time (18:00 GMT), as the championship battle intensifies heading into the final race.