The Dutch driver's scintillating performance on Friday has set the stage for an action-packed weekend in Lusail, as he closes in on his third world title.
Verstappen's Blistering Lap
Verstappen clocked an impressive time of 1m 23.778s on his first – and only – lap in Q3, beating George Russell and Lewis Hamilton comfortably. Russell, who came in second, was 0.441s behind, while Hamilton trailed by over half a second. Hamilton's final lap in Q3 was aborted after a slide in the first sector, adding to the drama of the session.
Confusion and Penalties
The session was not without controversy, as both McLaren drivers had their times deleted for exceeding track limits. The penalties resulted in Oscar Piastri dropping to sixth from an initial third position, while Norris will start from the 10th position, after losing his time that had put him second.
The Line-Up
Fernando Alonso secured the fourth position for Aston Martin, followed by Charles Leclerc in fifth for Ferrari. The Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon will start in seventh and eighth, respectively, ahead of Norris but behind Piastri. Valtteri Bottas managed an impressive ninth for Alfa Romeo.
Yuki Tsunoda narrowly missed out on a place in Q3 by just 0.004s to Bottas, and will start Sunday’s race for AlphaTauri in 11th. He will be joined on the grid by Carlos Sainz, who suffered a shock Q2 exit for Ferrari.
The Rest of the Grid
Sergio Perez, who also had his fastest time deleted for exceeding track limits, will start in 13th for Red Bull. Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg will start in 14th and 15th positions for Williams and Haas, respectively.
Logan Sargeant, the Williams rookie, will start in 16th, ahead of Lance Stroll in 17th. The bottom three positions were secured by Liam Lawson for AlphaTauri, Kevin Magnussen for Haas, and Zhou Guanyu for Alfa Romeo.
Looking Ahead
As the Formula 1 fanbase eagerly anticipates the Qatar Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Verstappen. His dominant performance in the qualifying session has set the tone for what promises to be an exciting race. With the championship within his grasp, the Dutch driver will be the one to watch this weekend.
