Winners and Losers from Qatar GP Qualifying

The F1 Qatar Grand Prix qualifying session saw a mix of fortunes for drivers, with some successfully turning their weekend around post-sprint race, while others continued to struggle in the desert heat. The intense competition highlighted key performances and glaring weaknesses across the grid.

Why it matters:

The qualifying results at Lusail are particularly crucial due to the track's notoriously difficult overtaking conditions. Securing a strong grid position can make or break a driver's race, often dictating their ability to score points or contend for the podium. For teams like McLaren, Alpine, and Williams, these sessions are vital for maximizing their championship points haul and demonstrating driver capabilities.

The Details:

• Lando Norris (2nd) - Loser: Despite a strong initial Q3 run, a late braking error into Turn 2 cost Norris pole position to his teammate Oscar Piastri. This setback puts him in a challenging position, starting behind Piastri with Max Verstappen attacking from behind.
• Pierre Gasly (9th) - Winner: Gasly delivered another 'heroic' qualifying performance, steering his Alpine into Q3. His celebratory radio message after Q2 highlighted the significance of his lap, marking his third consecutive Q3 appearance in a car generally considered uncompetitive. His teammate, Franco Colapinto, failed to advance from Q1.
• Lewis Hamilton (18th) - Loser: Hamilton faced another early Q1 elimination, joining Colapinto and Lance Stroll as drivers eliminated in both sprint qualifying and grand prix qualifying. His final lap was four-tenths short of Charles Leclerc, indicating a fundamental lack of pace and signaling a potentially long, painful race.
• Oscar Piastri (1st) - Winner: Piastri secured a dominant pole position, leaving no doubt about his pace after a previous snap in sprint qualifying. His clean, decisive lap reversed the order with Norris, setting him up for a potentially perfect weekend following his sprint win.
• Alex Albon (15th) - Loser: Albon admitted he "just didn't get the lap in" during Q2, qualifying a disappointing 15th while his Williams teammate Carlos Sainz took seventh. His struggle in high-speed corners this weekend leaves him facing an uphill battle to break a seven-race streak without points.
• Yuki Tsunoda (16th) - Loser: Tsunoda's promising weekend took a hit with a Q1 elimination, despite feeling his lap was "pretty tidy" and only marginally slower than his teammate Max Verstappen's equivalent Friday pace. The tight margins in F1 cost him a crucial chance to impress amid ongoing speculation about his future.
• Isack Hadjar (6th) - Winner: Hadjar bounced back from a deleted lap in sprint qualifying to lead the midfield in sixth for Racing Bulls. He outqualified his teammate Liam Lawson for the second consecutive day, a significant result for the constructors' fight and fueling rumors about his potential F1 seat for next year.
• Franco Colapinto (20th) - Loser: Colapinto's challenging run continued, finishing nearly half a second from advancing to Q2. His struggles contrast sharply with Gasly's performance, raising questions about his future if he cannot deliver stronger results.
• Lance Stroll (19th) - Loser: Stroll's struggles at Lusail continued, expressing worry that he was "on the limit with the grip" and unable to find more pace. His Q1 performance was well over four-tenths slower than his Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso, who advanced to Q3.

What's next:

With the grid set, attention now turns to the main event, the Qatar Grand Prix. The difficult overtaking conditions mean that strong starts and strategic pit stops will be paramount. Drivers like Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton will be looking to recover from their qualifying disappointments, while Oscar Piastri aims to convert his pole position into a perfect weekend. The intense midfield battle, particularly for teams like Alpine, Williams, and Racing Bulls, will be crucial for championship standings.