P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 Qatar GP: Verstappen grabs 10th pole amid deleted lap times farce
The qualifying session at the Losail circuit was marked by numerous track limit violations and drivers struggling with rear grip on the high-speed track. Max Verstappen secured pole position with a time of 1m23.778s but lost it on his second attempt after losing control of his car at Turn 5. Lando Norris also exceeded track limits and dropped to 10th place, promoting George Russell to second, followed by Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton. Piastri’s lap time was later deleted, moving Hamilton up to third. Fernando Alonso finished fifth, ahead of Charles Leclerc. Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon claimed seventh and eighth, respectively. Yuki Tsunoda, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez, and Logan Sargeant were among the drivers eliminated in the earlier stages of qualifying. Four drivers, including Hamilton and Piastri, are currently under investigation for potential rule violations. In addition, the bottom four Formula 1 teams will receive a $20 million capital expenditure boost.
Source: motorsport
