Entering the Formula 1 Sprint Race at the Qatar Grand Prix McLaren wanted a one-two result to inch closer to the Constructors’ Championship.
They did just that, as Oscar Piastri took first followed by Lando Norris to lockout the front row for McLaren.
Norris, who has faced criticism for his inability to maintain a lead from pole position, did everything he needed on the opening lap to keep the lead over George Russell at the start. Just behind him, teammate Oscar Piastri made a tremendous move on Russell into Turn 3, getting around the Mercedes driver to give McLaren an early one-two at the front.
Russell, however, kept the pressure on Piastri, shaping a move on the McLaren driver on Lap 4. While he could not complete the overtake, his pace gave those on the McLaren pit wall something to think about over the next few laps. Norris eased his pace at the front to pull Piastri within one second of him at the front, trying to create a DRS train to pull Piastri around the track and fend off the Mercedes driver.
“I’m trying to give Oscar DRS every lap,” reported Norris over the radio to his team.
On Lap 13 fans were treated to a preview of 2025, as future teammates Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton battled it out early in the lap, with Leclerc finally making the overtake stick on his future teammate to slot into P5.
Russell had another charge at Piastri at the start of Lap 14, nosing down to the inside at Turn 1, but Piastri slammed the door shut on the Mercedes to hold the position. Russell complained over the radio that Piastri’s defensive shape came “late,” but race officials did not take any action.
With four laps to go Norris noted that he was starting to lose the front tires, and the call came from the pit wall to “save” Piastri, and bring him back within DRS range to help him defend against Russell.
On the final lap Russell had another look at Piastri on the inside of Turn 1, but Piastri again slammed the door shut to hold on to P2. Right before the start/finish line Norris slid to the side, letting Piastri take the victory and taking second to give McLaren the one-two finish they wanted.
“We scored one-two, that’s what we were aiming for, we got maximum points,” said Norris trackside following the race.
“It was about defense for the whole race to be honest,” admitted Piastri after the race. “Nice to have a McLaren one-two.”
The move was likely a return of the favor from Norris, who captured the F1 Sprint Race in São Paulo as Piastri moved to the side, giving Norris an extra point. At that moment in the season Norris was still in pursuit of Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship.
But with that title done and dusted the focus for McLaren is on the Constructors’ title. The one-two finish is what mattered today. With the 15 points, and results elsewhere, McLaren now hold a 30-point lead over Ferrari, and a 67-point lead over Red Bull, in that title fight.
McLaren needs to have a lead over each team of 45 points when this weekend is over to clinch the title.
Russell finished third behind Norris, with the Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc taking fourth and fifth, respectively. Lewis Hamilton took sixth, while Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg delivered a strong performance to take seventh, banking two critical points for the team in their fight for sixth.
Max Verstappen took the final points position, finishing eighth.
