F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Race updates and times as Russell starts on pole
Lando Norris shares his thoughts after handing over the top spot to his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.
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George Russell, driving for Mercedes, will begin the Qatar Grand Prix from the top spot after Red Bull's Max Verstappen received a one-position penalty for blocking his competitor.
Verstappen began the sprint race in sixth place but ended up finishing eighth. The race was won by Oscar Piastri, and this win brought McLaren closer to securing their first constructors' championship in 26 years.
However, the Dutch driver bounced back during the qualifying session for Sunday’s main race, managing to edge out Mercedes’ George Russell by a mere 0.055 seconds. This victory secured the first pole position for both him and Red Bull since their last win in Austria five months ago.
At 1:06 AM local time, over three hours after the qualifying session wrapped up, it was announced that Verstappen would be dropped one spot on the grid for obstructing Russell while they were preparing for their last laps. Meanwhile, Lando Norris, who assisted his teammate Piastri in winning the sprint race earlier that Saturday—leading McLaren to a one-two finish and pulling 30 points ahead of Ferrari—remains in third place.
When Does The Qatar Grand Prix Start?
Kieran Jackson, November 30, 2024, at 7:49 PM.
George Russell Of Mercedes Starts From Pole Position
"I'm aware of that; he's mentioned it to me already. It should be an intriguing change."
"Lando and Max are both fast, but our main priority is to concentrate on our own performance."
Kieran Jackson, December 1, 2024, at 3:53 PM.
Horner Responds To Verstappen's Penalty
To me, it felt like a soccer player falling over in the penalty area. You could say that George was coming in a bit too quickly from behind. I'm not quite sure why we received a one-place grid penalty—if he needed any extra motivation, that certainly seemed to provide it.
“He’s really geared up for this!”
Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of your request: Kieran Jackson, December 1, 2024, at 3:51 PM
Rio Ferdinand Takes To The Track In Qatar
“I’m excited to be at the F1 event. It feels amazing to be back among the action.”
"I have a great deal of respect for Lewis and Max Verstappen, as they are top-tier athletes. Since I've been away for a while, I've noticed that the technology in the sport has advanced dramatically."
Kieran Jackson, December 1, 2024, at 3:48 PM.
Qatar National Anthem At Lusail Circuit!
Presented by the Qatar Music Academy Choir!
Kieran Jackson, December 1, 2024, 3:45 PM
F1 Academy Champion: Abbi Pulling's Journey
I realized that the championship was mine to throw away, and I had a great chance to win the title. I'm incredibly proud of this accomplishment—it's definitely one of my proudest moments.
I don’t think people understand the level of pressure I faced this year. If I hadn’t won, my future in this career would have been unclear. Now, I can head into Christmas with a clear plan for next year [GB3 Championship]!
"My dad hasn't been able to attend any races this year because he's been feeling unwell, but he made the trip out for this one. I'm really grateful to my family for all the sacrifices they've made."
Kieran Jackson, December 1, 2024, at 3:40 PM.
Max Verstappen Faces One-Place Grid Penalty
“We were all moving at a slow pace. I’m not sure what else I could have done,” he stated.
"I'm already surprised that I have to go to the stewards' office. If I have to do that, then next time I might just race at full speed and act like I'm going to crash into the other car."
"He ought to have hit the brakes. I did. Just like the vehicles ahead of me. I don’t want to ruin things for them. To be honest, I’m feeling pretty fed up with all of this as the season wraps up."
Kieran Jackson, December 1, 2024, at 3:35 PM.
Constructors’ Championship Before Qatar Grand Prix
1. McLaren - 623 points
2. Ferrari - 593 points
3. Red Bull Racing - 556 points
4. Mercedes - 434 points
5. Aston Martin - 86 points
6. Haas - 52 points
7. Alpine - 49 points
8. RB - 46 points
9. Williams - 17 points
10. Sauber - 0 points
Kieran Jackson - December 1, 2024, at 3:30 PM
Oscar Piastri's Impressive P4 Qualifying Finish
"We believed we had solid speed, and everyone made improvements, but we found it difficult to squeeze out any extra performance. I was pleased with the lap we completed. Overall, I left feeling quite satisfied with how I performed."
"If we have a chance to win, we'll definitely go for it. Tomorrow, we'll assess what the race looks like."
Kieran Jackson December 1, 2024, 3:22 PM
Jenson Button On Sergio Perez's Red Bull Replacement
"Liam [Lawson] is inexperienced and hasn't completed a full season yet. In my opinion, Yuki [Tsunoda] is better prepared for this position."
Kieran Jackson, December 1, 2024, at 3:17 PM
