Oscar Piastri beat McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the only practice session at the Qatar Grand Prix with Max Verstappen just sixth.
Just five days after being disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren has kicked off the Sprint weekend in Qatar with a one-two ahead of Sprint Qualifying later on Friday at 17.30, live on Sky Sports F1, and only 0.058s separated Piastri and Norris.
Norris, who leads the drivers’ championship by 24 points from Piastri and Verstappen with two rounds remaining, will seal the title on Sunday if he is at least 26 points clear in the standings.
This means, apart from a poor result in Saturday’s sprint at 2pm that victory in Sunday’s Grand Prix will guarantee he becomes the 11th British F1 World Champion.
Verstappen was unhappy with his car’s handling during the hour-long practice but will be hoping to turn things around for the rest of the Qatar weekend, where he won last year.
“Red Bull has work to do, I think,” said Sky Sports F1‘s Bernie Collins.
“Verstappen often complains in P1 about changes in the car and Red Bull are generally very good at reacting to that and getting the car back in a better position.”
The McLarens were only dominant on the soft tires as Norris and Piastri showed little pace on the hards. However, they are apparently favorites if their one-lap speed is anything to go by, as Piastri went faster on his second push lap.
Norris was initially 0.369s faster than his team-mate before a neater lap from the Australian put him ahead and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in third.
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Lando Norris says double McLaren DSQ in Vegas ‘changes nothing’ as he looks to win title in Qatar
Williams’ Carlos Sainz was fourth, with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, who is expected to be confirmed as Verstappen’s new Red Bull teammate in 2026, fifth.
Sky Sports F1’s Qatar GP schedule
Friday, November 28
16.05: F2 qualification*
16.50: Qatar GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 17.30)*
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments that have taken place at the Qatar Grand Prix
Saturday 29 November
13:00: Qatar GP Sprint Build-up*
14:00: QATAR GP SPRINT*
3.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook*
16.15: F2 Sprint
17.15: Qatar GP qualifying build-up
18:00: QATAR GP QUALIFYING
20:00: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday, November 30
11.55: F2 Feature
14.30: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
16:00: QATAR GRAND PRIX
18:00: Checkered flag: Qatar GP reaction
19.00: Ted’s notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s season-ending triple header continues with the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime