Norris repays Piastri in McLaren one-two at Qatar F1 sprint race

Oscar Piastri won the final sprint race of the season at the Qatar Grand Prix after Lando Norris dominated from pole but allowed his teammate past at the very death, in acknowledgement of the Australian giving up his win to the Briton in the Brazil sprint.

It still sealed a McLaren one-two at the Lusail Circuit, a huge boost in their attempt to seal the constructors’ championship ahead of Ferrari, whose Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were fourth and fifth. George Russell was third for Mercedes and his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, in sixth. Nico Hülkenberg was in seventh for Haas and Max Verstappen, his drivers’ title already complete, was eighth.

McLaren, who have not won the constructors’ title since 1998, went into the meeting leading Ferrari by 24 points, which was extended to 30 after the sprint. They need to outscore the Scuderia by a further 15 points to complete the job in Qatar and ensure they are 45 ahead before the final round in Abu Dhabi.

Norris admitted afterwards the team had told him not to give up the place but he felt he had to do it. “We’re happy as a team,” he said. “It was probably a bit closer than I wanted, but I had planned to do that since Brazil. The team told me not to do it, but I thought we could do it. I am not here to win sprint races. I want to win the championship and I haven’t done that.”

The British driver had dominated throughout. Norris led from pole holding his lead into turn one as Piastri took second from Russell and Hamilton also made up places to take fifth, passing Verstappen and Leclerc. Verstappen had gone backwards at the start, suffering from low grip and oversteer and going wide through the opening corners.

The McLarens were showing good pace from the off but could not throw off Russell, who remained tight on Piastri, and with DRS the Mercedes driver attacked. The pair went wheel to wheel, with Piastri refusing to give way, a scrap that would continue across the 19 laps.

Norris backed off a touch to allow Piastri to gain DRS and try to break away from Russell, which worked. Having brought all three cars close together at the front, Piastri was able to establish a DRS gap on Russell and reduce the threat. Yet Russell, who was rapid in a straightline, came back at him and they once more diced, Piastri defending stoutly to the Briton’s frustration.

Leclerc and Hamilton, who will be teammates at Ferrari next year, also vied brilliantly through the opening turns on lap 13, their wheels all but locked together with Leclerc just able to have the edge on the British driver to take fifth.

McLaren then once more called on Norris to back off to pull Piastri forward for the final laps and he duly did so, putting his teammate back in DRS range, but Russell continued to hound him in what was a tense finish. Piastri just held his place for the final lap and Norris eased up as they approached the line in what was a risky manoeuvre, allowing Piastri to take the win.