Formula 1 News: Norris gifts Piastri Qatar GP Sprint Race win

Polesitter Lando Norris let McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri past on the final lap to gift Piastri the win in the Qatar GP Sprint Race after leading every lap from pole.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Piastri was shown as the winner by 0.136s over Norris, with George Russell a close third, 0.410s behind Piastri in his #63 Mercedes at the Lusail International Circuit.

“I mean it was very close going into Turn 1 on a couple of occasions, said Russell. “Lando backing up, giving Oscar the DRS – it was pretty infuriating! P3, but this afternoon is the important one.”

Norris said he was told not to let Piastri by but he thought he could pull it off, and team radio shows that to be true. The team told him to finish in the order they were in.

“We scored a 1-2, that’s what we were aiming for, and we are happy as a team,” said Norris. “I probably could have pushed a little more than I was doing, but we didn’t want to give George a chance.

“It was probably a bit closer than I was wanting [to swap positions], but I had planned to do it since Brazil. It was a bit sketchy, the team told me not to do it, but I did it anyway.”

“It was about defense for the whole race,” said race winner Piastri. “I had a good start, a good Turn 1, but I killed the front tires a little bit early on and was struggling for the rest of the Sprint.

“Some great teamwork, without that would have been a difficult Sprint.”

The two Ferraris of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc rounded out the top-5, 1.326s and 5.073s behind Piastri respectively.

Leclerc took 5th place from his future teammate Lewis Hamilton in a wheel-to-wheel battle for several laps and finished 0.577s behind the Ferrari.

Nico Hulkenberg was 7th for Haas who held off Max Verstappen’s Red Bull that wasn’t even fast enough to beat a Haas as the two took the final 2 points. That extends Haas’ lead in the constructors’, they are now three points ahead of Alpine.

So, it is safe to say both that this is a McLaren track, but also that tomorrow’s Grand Prix is going to be a tough one.

There is a good overtaking opportunity into Turn 1, and tire wear could be high too. Plenty to play for later on then, when qualifying gets under way.

2024 Qatar Sprint Race Results