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And here it is. Will Giles be reporting on an 11th British driver becoming world champion tomorrow? Or will it all go down to Abu Dhabi? Good night.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Join us tomorrow, for a race that starts at 4pm GMT. Giles Richards\u2019 qualifying report from Qatar will arrive shortly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So there we are. Will Norris come to regret that aborted lap? Or can he take advantage on the run down to turn one? Unlike for the sprint race, where the error left him on the second row, he is alongside his teammate. For Piastri, after a difficult three months, it\u2019s a return to form that could be just in time. And lurking behind, ready to seize on any mistakes from the McLarens, is Zak Brown\u2019s horror movie nightmare<\/a>, Max Verstappen. George Russell\u2019s failure to get ahead of the Dutchman removes the potential buffer for McLaren.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Verstappen is asked about porpoising, which improved. He\u2019s not buoyant but is relaxed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Piastri praises the team. But he sees it as a tough track, at least not as hot as in 2023. Norris says he got a bit of understeer on the aborted flying lap. \u201cNothing to complain about, I just didn\u2019t do the lap.\u201d<\/p>\n McLaren’s Oscar Piastri celebrates with McLaren chief executive Zak Brown after qualifying in pole position. Photograph: Jakub Porzycki\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.14 EST<\/p>\n Norris seemed to get confused by Russell and then made a mistake, and backed off. On the plus side for Norris, hold second place and he will take a 15-point lead to Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Norris will be on the dirty side, with Verstappen third and Russell behind him. Piastri has the double pole.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So a McLaren lockout on the front row but Norris had an aborted final run for the second night running. He is not happy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Pole for Piastri<\/p>\n Norris pits with no lap taken! Pole for Piastri! Verstappen third, Russell fourth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Norris interrupted. Will he be able to have a flying lap?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s 11-11 between Norris and Piastri for qualifying this season, the graphic tells us. Who will lead 12-11? The McLarens are going out, Norris first.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.02 EST<\/p>\n There are 5mins 27sec to go when they can resume. Sainz had picked up a sticker off the floor of the garage. There will be an unsafe release investigation for Williams.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Red flag. A piece of plastic stuck to one of the backmarkers\u2019 cars came off.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Big spin for Leclerc. I\u2019m feeling dizzy from the on-board camera \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Verstappen can\u2019t touch the McLaren times \u2026 and nor can Russell. Max in fourth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Piastri +0.035 slower than Norris. Has the Briton found his form at the crucial time?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Verstappen is doing a double warm-up again, while Norris is going well in the middle sector. 119.495<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.52 EST<\/p>\n David Croft points out that whoever is fastest in Q3 has won the Qatar GP, with Verstappen triumphing despite grid penalties knocking him off pole.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here we go. Piastri and Norris could both swap to new softs, if required.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Turn 10 is the key part of the circuit, it seems. So many deleted times, including for Russell late on. Piastri as a driver has the edge going into Q3, McLaren as a team have the edge over Red Bull.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That\u2019s it. Leclerc sneaks into Q3 in 9th; H\u00fclkenberg, Lawson, Bearman, Bortoleto and Albon drop out. Isack Hadjar, who missed out on SQ3 because of a deleted time, survives in 10th.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.43 EST<\/p>\n Antonelli escapes the drop zone that Norris had helped put him into.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And he\u2019s safe. Norris is 0.211 slower than Piastri, ahead of Verstappen, but it will all come down to Q3 for the title challengers.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a relief for Lando Norris. Photograph: Altaf Qadri\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.46 EST<\/p>\n Lawson, Albon, Bortoleto, Leclerc and Norris in the drop zone.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n New soft tyres for Norris. Got to get into the top 10. Verstappen into the 1.19s.<\/p>\n That news will please this Max Verstappen fan. Photograph: Noushad Thekkayil\/NurPhoto\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.44 EST<\/p>\n Just over six minutes left, Norris needs a time. Antonelli up to 8th with his first valid lap. Russell third fastest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Piastri and Norris now at it. 119.650 for the Australian, Norris done for track limits \u2013 no time!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Verstappen fastest, 120.142. He took two warm-up laps before going for it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Piastri on an out-lap, Norris still lurking.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n OK, Q2 is upon us. Verstappen is out early, on new tyres.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.28 EST<\/p>\n If there\u2019s a consolation for the bottom five, it\u2019s that barely a second covered all 20 drivers.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile the censors are out for Yuki Tsunoda, as Red Bull\u2019s second man lets fly with the expletives after team radio tells him he has been eliminated.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n But at the front, at the very last, George Russell goes quickest ahead of Norris. It\u2019s the first four from the sprint race but in a different order. Russell, Norris, Piastri, Verstappen. Now for Q2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hamilton into the elimination zone! Out he goes with Tsunoda, Ocon, Stroll and Colapinto.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s going to be close for Lewis Hamilton. Will he make it out of Q1? In 13th with time running out. Leclerc is fifth.<\/p>\n Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton during qualifying. Photograph: Thaier Al-Sudani\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.29 EST<\/p>\n Lawson, Tsunoda, Ocon, Stroll and Colapinto in the drop zone.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Norris now finds his feet, four-tenths quicker than Verstappen \u2013 and Piastri cannot top him. Only 0.077 between the two McLarens at present.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.13 EST<\/p>\n Verstappen goes fastest, Tsunoda 10th fastest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Norris down in 15th with half the session gone. He\u2019s had a tyre change.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.10 EST<\/p>\n Piastri goes fastest for now. Norris has plenty of time but his colleague is reinvigorated.<\/p>\n