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Check out all the biggest stories from sprint and qualifying day at the Qatar Grand Prix with the latest RacingNews365 Review!
Max Verstappen had a challenging qualifying session and started sixth on the grid for the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint race, behind his team-mate for the first time this season. Despite an off-track excursion during qualifying, Yuki Tsunoda secured fifth place, leaving Verstappen to battle from a lower starting position. Oscar Piastri claimed pole position, with Lando Norris in third, setting up an exciting race for Red Bull and McLaren.
Aston Martin clarified that they will not be offering a role to ex-Red Bull boss Christian Horner, after parting ways with him earlier in the season, putting an end to speculation about his potential involvement with the team. Piastri went on to comfortably win the Qatar Sprint race, leading ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris, with Verstappen finishing in fourth after gaining two positions on the opening lap.
In the qualifying session, Piastri clinched pole position by a slim margin over Norris, showcasing competitive performances from McLaren and its drivers. Additionally, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko pointed out an issue with the RB21 car’s performance on soft tires, specifically affecting Verstappen’s pace during sprint qualifying. Yuki Tsunoda reflected on his strong execution throughout the Grand Prix weekend as a key factor in out-qualifying and ultimately defeating Verstappen for the first time this season.
