Piastri Heads Norris in 2024 Qatar Sprint – Sport Grill

Oscar Piastri headed Lando Norris in a McLaren one-two finish in 2024 Qatar Sprint.

Norris led from lights to flag but unexpectedly gifted Oscar Piastri victory out of the final corner in a McLaren one-two finish in-return for their swap in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with Mercedes’ George Russell third.

Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg and Max Verstappen rounded out the top eight.

Speaking post-race, Piastri praised Norris for handing him the win at the end of a tricky race.

“It was about defence for the whole race to be honest, I had a good start and a good Turn One but I didn’t quite had the pace, I killed the front a little bit early on.

“I was struggling a bit for the rest of the sprint but there was some great teamwork and without that help, it would have been a much more difficult sprint. It’s nice to have McLaren one-two.”

With Verstappen confirmed as champion following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Norris pulled a 24-point lead over Leclerc in their fight to finish as vice-champion.

McLaren meanwhile extended their lead over Ferrari to 30 points in their constructors’ title battle.

At lights out, Norris made a clean start to lead through the opening corners as Piastri passed Russell on the inside of turn two, which led to a frantic scrap between the pair.

Sainz stayed fourth but Hamilton made up two positions to fifth ahead of Leclerc whilst Hulkenberg and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly demoted Verstappen to ninth, which the four-time champion put down to “understeer” on team radio.

Up front, Russell attempted to repass Piastri on the inside of turn one only for the Australian to cut across on the exit, which left the Brit bemused whilst Norris continued to give Piastri a tow as the top six formed a DRS train.

Verstappen meanwhile was made to wait until lap eight before he cleared Gasly on the inside of turn one for eighth position.

Leclerc was the first driver to make a move in the DRS train on lap 13 as he swept past Hamilton round the outside of turn three to regain fifth.

Norris ultimately led Piastri, Russell and Sainz to the checkered flag until he allowed Piastri to pass out of the final corner to take victory, in return for Piastri having given him the win in Sao Paulo.

Leclerc and Hamilton finished in fifth and sixth, whilst Hulkenberg held off Verstappen to finish seventh.

Teams now turn their attention to Qualifying for the Grand Prix at 9pm local time (6pm UK Time).