Oscar Piastri pipped McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in the one apply session on the Qatar Grand Prix with Max Verstappen solely sixth.
Simply 5 days after being disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren have began the Dash weekend in Qatar with a one-two forward of Dash Qualifying in a while Friday at 5.30pm, reside on Sky Sports activities F1, and solely 0.058s break up Piastri and Norris.
Norris, who leads the Drivers’ Championship by 24 factors from Piastri and Verstappen with two rounds to go, will seal the title on Sunday if he’s at the very least 26 factors forward within the standings.
It means, barring a poor lead to Saturday’s Dash at 2pm, victory within the Grand Prix on Sunday would assure he turns into the eleventh British F1 world champion.
Verstappen was sad with the drivability of his automobile all through the hour-long apply however will hope to show issues round for the rest of the Qatar weekend, the place he received final yr.
“Red Bull have work to do, I think,” mentioned Sky Sports activities F1‘s Bernie Collins.
“Verstappen often complains in P1 about shifts in the car and Red Bull are generally very good at reacting to that and getting the car back out in a better position.”
The McLarens have been solely dominant on the comfortable tyres as Norris and Piastri confirmed little tempo on the hards. Nonetheless, they’re seemingly favourites if their one-lap pace is something to go by as Piastri went faster on his second push lap.
Norris was initially 0.369s quicker than his team-mate earlier than a tidier lap from the Australian put him forward and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in third.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz was fourth, with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, who is predicted to be confirmed as Verstappen’s new Crimson Bull team-mate in 2026, in fifth.
Sky Sports activities F1’s Qatar GP schedule
Friday November 28
4.05pm: F2 Qualifying*
4.50pm: Qatar GP Dash Qualifying (session begins at 5.30pm)*
Saturday November 29
1pm: Qatar GP Dash build-up*
2pm: QATAR GP SPRINT*
3.30pm: Ted’s Dash Pocket book*
4.15pm: F2 Dash
5.15pm: Qatar GP Qualifying build-up
6pm: QATAR GP QUALIFYING
8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday November 30
11.55am: F2 Function
2.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
4pm: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
6pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP response
7pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion
Components 1’s season-ending triple header continues with the Qatar Grand Prix Dash weekend reside on Sky Sports activities F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime

