McLaren's Oscar Piastri caused a surprise on Saturday by taking pole position for the Qatar GP sprint, ahead of teammate Lando Norris and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who can be crowned world champion for the third time in a row on Saturday evening.
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- Formula 1: drivers' standings
- Formula 1: the calendar of the season
The Australian rookie, who scored his first podium in Japan two weeks ago (3rd), snatched the fastest time on his final lap under the nose of Norris, whom he beat by 82 thousandths.
Verstappen, who needs just three points in the night sprint to secure a third world crown, has been relegated to third place, 192 thousandths behind, and will start on the second row, alongside Britain's George Russell (Mercedes).
The two Ferraris of Spaniard Carlos Sainz and Monegasque Charles Leclerc will start from fifth and sixth. Germany's Nico Hülkenberg took a fine seventh place, ahead of the other Red Bull of Sergio Pérez.
The only driver who can still delay Verstappen's announced title, the Mexican has little chance of succeeding after another disappointing qualifying.
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