Max Verstappen found almost eight-tenths of a second from sprint qualifying to qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, but it was going slowly that cost him the most.

Verstappen was stripped of pole for Sunday’s race as he was deemed to be travelling uneccessarily slowly on the racing line as George Russell – about to start a flying lap two corners later – had to take avoiding action.

That means Verstappen starts on the outside of Russell for the race, with the two McLarens just behind trying to fend off Ferrari in the constructors’ championship.

Fernando Alonso ended Aston Martin’s poor recent run by qualifying eighth, Sergio Perez made Q3, both the Saubers made Q2 for the first time since Barcelona in June, and Esteban Ocon was almost nine-tenths off his team-mate Pierre Gasly.

Those are just some of the storylines from a brilliant Losail weekend so far. Here’s Sunday’s grid.

Starting grid

1 Russell
2 Verstappen
3 Norris
4 Piastri
5 Leclerc
6 Hamilton
7 Sainz
8 Alonso
9 Perez
10 Magnussen
11 Gasly
12 Zhou
13 Bottas
14 Tsunoda
15 Stroll
16 Albon
17 Lawson
18 Hulkenberg
19 Colapinto
20 Ocon