Qatar GP Sprint: Piastri Beats Norris as Title Fight Tightens

Oscar Piastri secured a controlled Qatar sprint victory, trimming McLaren teammate Lando Norris's championship advantage. The result reshapes the title race ahead of Sunday's main race.

Sprint race recap

The sprint in Qatar saw Piastri lead from lights to flag as Norris finished just behind, with Mercedes driver George Russell completing the podium in third. The top three lined up in the same order as the start, signaling a straightforward pace battle early on.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen surged from sixth on the grid to finish fourth, narrowing the gap to Norris in the standings to two points with Norris leading by 22 points and Verstappen by 25 heading into Sunday's grand prix.

Key moments

Verstappen moved up early after overtaking Fernando Alonso, who had impressed by qualifying fourth with a car that struggled in race pace. The Dutch driver challenged Norris for the first laps but soon pulled back, citing bounce and handling issues with his RB24.

After the first three corners, the main overtakes in the points occurred when Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli passed Fernando Alonso after the Spaniard ran wide at the final corner on lap 12, taking the inside line at Turn One on the following lap. However, both Yuki Tsunoda and Antonelli received five-second penalties for exceeding track limits, leaving them in sixth and seventh by the end of the race.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso collected two valuable points by finishing seventh, while Ferrari's Carlos Sainz claimed eighth for the final point.

Ferrari endured a challenging day. Charles Leclerc dropped from ninth on the grid to 13th after two off-track moments, and Lewis Hamilton finished 17th after starting from the pit lane.

Championship implications

Norris heads into Sunday’s grand prix with a 22-point lead over Piastri and a 25-point margin to Verstappen. If Norris wins the main race, he becomes champion; if Piastri or Verstappen wins, the title will be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend.

Expert analysis

F1 analyst Maya Chen notes that Piastri's sprint win keeps McLaren in the title hunt, though Norris still holds the edge heading into the final race. Verstappen remains within striking distance, ensuring Abu Dhabi will be decisive.

Short summary

The Qatar sprint delivered a clear victory for Piastri, with Norris close behind and Russell on the podium. Verstappen's charge to fourth keeps the championship alive, while penalties reshaped the midfield. The weekend's main race will decide the champion, with Norris' lead under pressure and Piastri and Verstappen ready to pounce.

Key insight: Piastri's sprint victory tightens the F1 title race, setting up an all-or-nothing finale in Abu Dhabi. Source: BBC Sport.