Just a day after a disappointing race qualifying in Qatar and being penalised for going over track limits, knocking them from P2 and P3 to P6 and P10 respectively, both McLaren’s managed to get on the front row in the Sprint Shootout. Rookie Oscar Piastri got his ever first pole in Formula 1 in the Shootout, getting a 1:24.454 time in on the final lap.
Lando Norris qualified 0.82 seconds behind the Aussie driver, though the Brit wasn’t happy with his performance and critiqued his mistakes. Norris looked fast in the final session of the Shootout, but after going wide on the last corner missed out on first place. Max Verstappen came in third place in the weekend where he could mathematically become World Champion needing just three points.
In a hectic sprint race on Saturday afternoon containing five DNF’s, Piastri started the 19-lap sprint in first position. Despite being overtaken by Mercedes’ George Russell who was on an opposite tyre strategy, he managed to fight his way back to P1 to be the first driver to see the checkered flag in the sprint. The Aussie beat his previous best result of second in the Belgium, highlighting how far the rookie is progressing. The McLaren’s were split by Max Verstappen, who was officially crowned World Champion for the third consecutive year finishing 1.871 seconds behind Piastri. Norris who again was disappointed with himself, describing the race as “tough”, finished third 8.497 seconds behind his fellow papaya driver.
Oscar Piastri is going from strength to strength, it was only last race I was talking about his first front row qualifying in Japan which went on to be his first podium, could his first win be possible in Qatar? It looks unlikely with Piastri starting in P6, but the McLaren’s have been rapid the past two weekends so can’t be fully dismissed!
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