Lando Norris makes worrying admission ahead of Qatar sprint and F1 title-decider
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Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the Qatar sprint, ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris, who lined up third following a challenging qualifying session. Max Verstappen qualified sixth after facing difficulties. With both McLarens disqualified from the previous race, Norris maintained a 24-point lead in the championship with two grands prix remaining.
Source: Original report
Lando Norris says he does not expect to win the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, which could significantly impact his formula 1 title aspirations. The McLaren driver made his comments after qualifying on Saturday, where he will start from P3, just behind his teammate Oscar Piastri and George Russell of Mercedes. Despite being 24 points ahead in the championship standings with only two races remaining, Norris acknowledged the challenge ahead.
Norris stated to Sky Sports: “The pace was there but I made a mistake in the last corner. I just didn’t put it together.” He added, “I would be stupid not to try and win but it is impossible to overtake so I think I will probably finish P3. Getting past George Russell on the line is probably the best I can hope for.” This sentiment underscores the difficulty of overtaking at the Losail International Circuit.
Oscar Piastri, who secured pole position for the sprint race, expressed his satisfaction following a strong qualifying performance. “It has been a good day, which is nice for a change. Things clicked from the start, so thanks to the team,” he remarked. Piastri also noted the adjustments made prior to qualifying: “The pace was there all day.”
Norris requires a lead of at least 26 points over Piastri and Max Verstappen to clinch the championship in Qatar. Currently, with his 24-point lead, he needs to outscore both rivals. Points awarded during the sprint race are limited, making it challenging for Norris to achieve his goal this weekend.
As a result, Norris will not be able to secure the title during the Sprint race. However, he retains the possibility of clinching it during the main event scheduled for Sunday. If he does not succeed in Qatar, the championship outcome will be decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
The Qatar Grand Prix sprint race is set to commence at 2pm UK time on Saturday, with qualifying for the main race scheduled at 6pm, followed by the race itself at 4pm on Sunday.