F1 Qatar GP Live Commentary and Updates - Sprint race
Minute-by-minute updates for the sprint race for the 2024 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix
Lando Norris will start the final sprint race of the F1 season from pole position ahead of George Russell and team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Max Verstappen will line-up in sixth after securing his fourth consecutive world title last time out. Sergio Perez and Franco Colapinto, both out in Q1, will start from the pitlane after making changes.
The sprint race gets under way at 14:00GMT.
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But now, it is time for us to depart. Qualifying gets under way at 6pm GMT and we will be back for a short buildup before the green lights show.
Until then, here's the full report from an entertaining sprint race. As ever, thanks for your company!
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-qatar-gp-sprint-report/10677895/
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Red Bull is in trouble, is another learning. With Perez showing all the pace of a snail in treacle and Verstappen unable to keep pace with Hulkenberg's Haas, significant changes are needed ahead of qualifying.
So what have we learned from that sprint race? Well, if overtaking is what you're after, Turn 1 is the spot - but don't bank on too much passing.
No question for Piastri on the end of the race and the switch of positions with Norris. Well, that's just disappointing.
"We're happy as a team," says Norris. "It was probably a bit closer than I wanted, but I had planned to do that since Brazil.
"The team told me not to do it, but I thought we could do it."
The top three all look pretty down about that one, with neither McLaren driver acknowledging the other until Zak Brown intervened and brought about the smiles.
15 points for McLaren but that ending will be spoken about at length. Across the season, that's fair.
However, Norris' silence on the radio says it all.
Oscar Piastri is allowed past Lando Norris to win the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race. Payback for earlier in the season when Piastri helped his team-mate.
Russell tried his best, but it's no dice into Turn 1.
Given the battle at the front, Hulkenberg hasn't had the praise he has deserved. In seventh, that will bring some crucial points for Haas in a very close constructors' championship battle.
“Leclerc is really pushing hard behind Sainz - gaining chunks in every sector after setting the fastest lap. Spurred on by laying down quite the battle marker on future team-mate Hamilton, perhaps?”
Three laps to go and this is far from done.
“Norris gave up nearly a second in sector three the lap Russell came close with Piastri at Turn 1 - that’s why the DRS factor is back up between the McLarens”
Perez comes in for a leisurely nose change. He hasn't made any progress at all and this is now just a lengthy test session.
"F*** me. That was late. That's twice now," Russell says on team radio.
Another new fastest lap from Norris with a 1m24.329s as Piastri makes a very late change of direction to block Russell. That one was on the line.
Leclerc and Hamilton bang wheels as the Ferrari driver attacks his future team-mate for fifth. The pair were side-by-side through turns one and two but Leclerc eventually won out.
“Norris just set the fastest lap, but still was handing Piastri those critical tenths in sector three, suggesting the leader really can go a fair bit quicker”
A new fastest lap from Norris shows how hard he is pushing. A 1m25.067s is the new best.
Sainz has now closed within DRS range of the leading trio with Hamilton, who had backed off for a couple of laps, and Leclerc both now edging closer.
The gamble on softs has not worked for Zhou. He's now three seconds slower than anyone and will need to pit - or retire and save the engine mileage.
“Norris is constantly 0.1s or 0.2s slower through sector three - that’s as he’s clearly backing off in the high-speed turns so Piastri is close enough in the DRS detection zone”
Verstappen has clearly found some pace as he sets a new fastest lap of the race with a 1m25.224s.
Heading onto lap eight, and the top three enter Turn 1 nose to tail.
Behind, Verstappen finally passes Gasly for eighth with a DRS move.
"I'm trying to give Oscar DRS every lap," says Norris. That could be the difference between a 1-2 or a weaker result.
Norris has now dropped back slightly, allowing Piastri to get within DRS range in order to assist in fending off Russell.
But Sainz and Hamilton are now closing in to make this a five-way battle.
Of his start, Verstappen reports, "Oversteer is an understatement."
Somewhat surprisingly, Verstappen is not making progress and remains stuck behind Gasly's Alpine.
"He f*****g turned into me," says an angry Russell.
Along the main straight to start lap four, Russell pulls level with Piastri before the McLaren driver brakes late and cuts him off. Very aggressive stuff from the Australian.
On the first lap with DRS, Russell is already ducking and diving to try to find a way past Piastri. This battle is shaping up to be a spicy one!
A poor start for Verstappen who has dropped to ninth. With Red Bull team-mate Perez last, a zero-score will do nothing to help the team's failing constructors' championship bid.
Norris has banked a decent margin to Piastri as the chasing pack battled.
Also making progress was Hamilton, who passed Leclerc for fifth at Turn 2.
A strong start from Norris as Russell slots into third, fending off Piastri. But Piastri takes the inside line of Turn 2 and jumps into P2.
WE ARE RACING!
The field returns to the grid and we're just about ready!
19 drivers are on the medium tyres with Zhou the outlier on the soft compound from 18th. The Sauber driver is the lowest-placed driver starting on the grid.
By: Autosport Staff
