P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A closely contested fight for pole position was held in Qatar – but it was Max Verstappen who came out on top!
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix, narrowly beating George Russell by half a tenth of a second. This achievement marks Verstappen’s first pole position in 12 rounds, dating back to his fastest lap in Austria earlier this year. The battle for pole was primarily between Verstappen and Russell, as their competitors lacked the pace to challenge. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start on the second row, in third and fourth positions, respectively. Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz claimed the remaining top spots, with Kevin Magnussen finishing in tenth. In terms of qualifying results, Sergio Perez advanced to Q3 after a tight Q2 session, while Zhou Guanyu and Pierre Gasly had strong showings. Nico Hulkenberg’s early exit was a surprise, finishing in 18th place due to car issues, as Alex Albon and Liam Lawson claimed 16th and 17th positions. Lastly, Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon will start from the final row for the Qatar Grand Prix.
