Oscar Piastri won his second straight Formula 1 Sprint event in Qatar Saturday (Nov. 30) after Lando Norris gave up the win in the final corner, going against McLaren’s request to hold position until the end.
Norris pulled over to allow Piastri through on the final lap, in a matter similar to Piastri’s win at Hungary earlier this season. George Russell finished third.
“[The strategy] was about defense for the whole race, to be honest,” Piastri told Sky Sports’ James Hinchcliffe after the race. “I had a good start and a good turn 1, and just didn’t quite have the pace. I think I killed the front [tires] a little bit early on and I was struggling a bit for the rest of the sprint. But some great teamwork. I think without that help it would’ve been a much more difficult sprint. So, nice to have a McLaren 1-2.”
After their position swap in Brazil, Lando Norris pays the favour back to Oscar Piastri in Qatar 🔀#F1Sprint #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/9L6l1o8yay
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 30, 2024
Norris spent the entire race leading but staying slow enough for Piastri to stay in his DRS range to defend against Russell, before finally dropping back right at the very end of the race.
LAP 4/19
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 30, 2024
Russell attacks Piastri for second, but the Aussie holds up a robust defence 🛡️#F1Sprint #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/xRGZZEsUzB
The Ferrari pair picked up a solid fourth and fifth, with Carlos Sainz leading Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton finished sixth to start his penultimate weekend at Mercedes.
Nico Hulkenberg picked up two points for Haas in their battle for sixth in constructors by finishing seventh. In said battle, Haas now has a three point lead over Alpine. RB is still in the fight but is six points behind Haas now.
Newly crowned Drivers’ Champion Max Verstappen grabbed the last point of the day in eighth. After a bad start, Verstappen had to make a pass on Pierre Gasly on lap 8 to get into the points.
In the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren now has a very simple pathway to the title. If Piastri and Norris once again finish in the top two in the Grand Prix this weekend, they will win the Constructors’ title, McLaren’s first of the 21st century.
Ferrari could also clinch second depending on how Red Bull does in the race; the clinch point is establishing a gap of 44 points over Red Bull and they are currently 37 points ahead.
2024 F1 Qatar Sprint Results
Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix will start at 11 a.m. ET with coverage on ESPN.
About the author
Michael has watched NASCAR for 20 years and regularly covered the sport from 2013-2021, and also formerly covered the SRX series from 2021-2023. He now covers the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and road course events in the NASCAR Cup Series.
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