Max Verstappen grabbed a sensational pole position in Qatar, after struggling over one lap in Sprint Qualifying the day before. Red Bull really turned things around, getting both cars into the top 10 and managing to get the better of McLaren, who looked the class of the field earlier on in the Sprint. Here are all the best facts and stats from a thrilling qualifying…
Verstappen bagged his first pole since Austria, 12 races ago as he grabbed P1 here for the second year in a row.
The Dutchman qualified sixth for the Sprint, but turned that into P1 for the Grand Prix. The last time he was quickest in Q3 was at Spa, when he lost pole due to having a 10-place grid penalty.
READ MORE: Verstappen beats Russell to surprise pole position in Qatar by just 0.055s
George Russell missed out on Sprint pole by 0.063s, and pole tonight by 0.055s. But he did manage his third front row start, the best run of his career.
Russell has previously shared the front row with Verstappen in Canada, after the duo set identical Q3 times.
Lando Norris has out-qualified his team mate 19 times in 23 Grands Prix this year, but Oscar Piastri’s fourth is his highest start since he won from second on the grid in Baku, six races ago.
A McLaren one-two tomorrow will clinch the constructors’ championship for the papaya team.
Charles Leclerc qualified fifth – the same as he managed for the Sprint.
Lando Norris ceded victory to McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the Sprint race in Qatar, a move hailed as “brilliance” by team boss Andrea Stella. Norris l
The starting grid for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix has changed after Max Verstappen was handed a one-place grid penalty for impeding George Russell, losing his pol
Max Verstappen has lost pole position at the Qatar Grand Prix after being handed a grid penalty for an incident with George Russell during qualifying. R
LUSAIL, Qatar — One week after clinching his fourth Formula One world championship in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen reminded his rivals why he is so hard to beat.