Piastri pips Norris to Qatar GP pole after victory in sprint race closes title gap

Oscar Piastri Snatches Pole Position from Lando Norris in Thrilling Qatar GP Qualifying

In a nail-biting session, Australian driver Oscar Piastri has secured pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix, leaving his McLaren teammate Lando Norris to settle for second and Red Bull's Max Verstappen third. The result is a significant boost to Piastri's World Championship title aspirations, as he now trails Norris by just two points.

Piastri's victory in yesterday's sprint race, which saw him outpace Norris to take the win, played a crucial role in closing the championship gap. His teammate, Verstappen, dropped down to fourth place, narrowing his deficit to Norris to 25 points behind. The Dutchman has struggled with his car's behavior all weekend and was knocked into fourth by George Russell.

The high-speed circuit of Lusail International Circuit proved challenging for overtaking, as drivers focused on managing their tyres to maintain speed. Piastri's final lap under pressure proved decisive, leaving Norris just three-hundredths behind in second place. The Australian's pole position has given him a vital opportunity to control the race and secure the title.

Norris' task remains daunting if he is to win the championship. He must be 26 points ahead of Piastri or 25 points clear if he wins the race, with either his rivals closing in on the title. Norris himself downplayed the significance of Verstappen's comments earlier in the day, dismissing them as "talking nonsense."

The qualifying session was marked by controversy surrounding tyre wear and safety concerns. Pirelli has limited the use of tyres for the GP to a 25-lap stint, making the 57-lap contest a mandatory two-stop. The FIA and Pirelli will closely monitor the situation, with fears of punctures at high speed.

With Norris facing an uphill battle, Piastri's pole position is poised to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the championship.

omg u guys, i cant believe piastri took pole from lanado ! that was so intense, and now he gets 2nd chance to win the title . Norris gotta step up his game big time if hes gonna catch piastri, like 26 points or more ahead? thats a huge gap! pirelli's tyre restrictions are kinda crazy tho, its like they wanna make it harder for drivers to manage their tires . anyway, im hyped for the race now

omg did u see that qualifying session piastri snatched pole from lanado like 5 mins before it ended i was literally on the edge of my seat and now he's in such a good position to win the whole shebang what's going on with max tho? seems like his car's been a bit of a lemon this weekend anyway can't wait for the race, piastri's gonna give it everything he's got fingers crossed he takes that championship title

OMG, can't believe Oscar Piastri snatched that pole position from Lando Norris! I mean, the Aussie knew he had it in him after that sick win in the sprint race yesterday . Now Norris is in a bit of a bind, gotta be like 26 points ahead of Piastri to win the title, and even then, there's no guarantee . Verstappen's comments earlier were pretty on point tho, he's not holding back about Norris' chances . And can we talk about how crazy this tyre situation is? Limiting use to a 25-lap stint, gotta be worried about punctures now ! Piastri's pole position is def gonna give him an edge, fingers crossed he can hold on and win the title

Omg yaaas Oscar Piastri just crushed it on the Qatar GP qualifying track! Lando Norris is gonna have his hands full trying to catch up now 2 points behind and he's still got Max Verstappen breathing down his neck gotta love how Piastri performed under pressure, that final lap was insane . Pirelli's new tyre rule is def gonna shake things up though gotta see how this whole championship thing plays out!

omg what a turn up piastri must be so hyped right now lol 2nd place for norris though that's still super impressive he's gotta bring it home now or it'll be piastri's world

I gotta say, Oscar Piastri's got some serious game! He managed to snatch that pole position from Lando Norris in a thrilling qualifying session. But let's be real, this isn't just about driving skills – it's about strategy and adapting to the situation. I mean, Norris was just three-hundredths behind, which is insane! And now Piastri gets to control the race, which could be a game-changer for his title aspirations.

I'm also loving how the tyre wear controversy is adding an extra layer of tension to the championship. It's not just about the drivers anymore – it's about the teams and Pirelli working together (or against each other) to find a solution.

Just saw Oscar Piastri take pole and I'm thinking he's gonna crush this GP! Lando Norris might be struggling , but Piastri's got the skillz . 25 points back means Norris has a mountain to climb . Can't wait for the race , it's gonna be intense ! Pirelli's tyre worries are definitely something to keep an eye on...

I'm low-key obsessed with Oscar Piastri's comeback story ! He's been on a roll and it's awesome to see him snatching that pole position from Lando Norris . The way he outpaced his teammate in the sprint race was insane , and now this qualifying win is giving him the boost he needs to close that championship gap . I'm rooting for Piastri to take home that title - he's got the skills and the determination ! Norris' task is looking tough, but we'll see how it all plays out on race day #F1 #OscarPiastri #LandoNorris #QatarGP

can't believe piastri just snatch pole from norris like that... now he's in a super good spot for the title but norris still got it in him, this one's gonna be a wild ride

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King Jr.

I mean think about it, Oscar Piastri just stole pole position from Lando Norris like that, now the pressure is on Norris to win the championship, it's gonna be a tough one

man, this piastri dude is on fire , i mean, taking out lando norris from pole and still being 2 points behind him? that's like getting a free pass to the title fight ! but at the same time, lando's got some heavy lifting to do now if he wants to catch up... 26 points is a big gap to close. and those tyre rules are gonna make it super tricky for both drivers

OMG ! Oscar Piastri totally killed it out there on the track!!! He got that pole position and now he's in the driver's seat (pun intended) ! Norris is gonna have to bring his A-game if he wants to take down Piastri for that championship title... but I gotta say, it's looking pretty tight . Can't wait to see what happens on Sunday

i think piastri really got lucky on that final lap he was so close to crashin but managed to hold on and secure 1st spot its like he just tapped into the right mindset or somethin at the end there

man this piastri guy is on fire i mean who else can take pole from lando like that lol? he needs to keep it up and we might see him win that world title Norris is definitely in trouble now, but u know what? i love the way he took that second spot still, gave it his all

omg piastri finally gets his due! i was on the edge of my seat during qualifying and nietherland s pace looked shaky at times , especially after that crash. it's crazy how much he needed that win from yesterdays sprint race to close the gap with norris tho now that piastri's got pole position, we can expect some fireworks on sunday the pressure is definitely on for norris and verstappen gotta step up their game if they wanna give him a run for his money

I've got the tea on this one! Piastri's been riding hot coals all season, and that sprint win really paid off. Norris was struggling to catch up, but Piastri just put his foot down when it mattered most . With Verstappen's struggles this weekend, Norris' chances of taking the title are looking pretty bleak . I mean, 25 points behind? That's a mountain to climb! Piastri's in control now, and if he can keep his cool under pressure, that championship is his for the taking . Can't wait to see how it all plays out on Sunday

I think Oscar Piastri's pole position for the Qatar GP qualifying is a total game-changer for his World Championship title aspirations. He's literally two points behind Lando Norris now, and with this win in the sprint race, he was able to close that gap even more. It's crazy how one little mistake by Verstappen can make all the difference, but Piastri was just on it today .

The thing is, Piastri knows exactly what needs to happen for him to take home the title, and now he's got the pole position to control the pace of the race. Norris has to win this thing by a landslide, which is super hard to do in a GP qualifying session where tyre wear is an issue . The FIA and Pirelli have got their work cut out for them with those safety concerns, but I'm sure they'll get to the bottom of it.

It's also worth noting that Norris' comments about Verstappen's remarks earlier today were quite telling - he basically said they meant nothing, which suggests he might be feeling a bit anxious about his own chances.

so piastri getting pole on the last lap like what? he must be pretty confident in his car but lando norris still got nothing on him it's gonna be a tough one for lanos to catch up now, 26 points behind and they're not even giving him an easy track to overtake on this circuit pirelli's limit on tyres is crazy, two stops in 57 laps? it's like they want drivers to crash anyway, it's gonna be a thrilling season finale for sure