Max Verstappen has claimed a surprising pole position for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, beating Mercedes driver George Russell by just 0.055 seconds in the final moments of qualifying. This is Verstappen's first pole since the Austrian Grand Prix in June. Lando Norris will start from third, with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri qualifying fourth, rounding out a strong showing for the team.
The battle for pole position was intense, with the leaderboard shifting repeatedly throughout qualifying. George Russell had set a provisional pole during the initial runs of Q3, but Verstappen’s late effort saw him clock a time of 1:20.520 to secure pole, just ahead of Russell, who posted a 1:20.575.
Verstappen and controversy goes hand in hand
Verstappen's pole position came amid some controversy, as Race Control noted that he may have been driving too slowly on his cooldown lap, potentially impeding Russell. However, no further action was taken by the stewards.
Norris Takes Third, McLaren Impresses
Lando Norris will start from third place, with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri securing fourth. This result reflects McLaren's continued improvement, with both drivers showing impressive pace throughout the weekend. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified fifth, while Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton took sixth.
The Top 10 Qualifiers
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – 1:20.520
2. George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:20.575
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:20.772
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:20.829
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:20.852
6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:21.011
7. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 1:21.041
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:21.251
9. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing) – 1:21.425
10. Kevin Magnussen (Haas Ferrari) – 1:21.500
Midfield Drama and Eliminations
Pierre Gasly was eliminated in Q2, qualifying 11th, while Kick Sauber drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas showed competitive pace but couldn't make it into Q3, finishing 12th and 13th. Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, Nico Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto, and Esteban Ocon were also eliminated in earlier qualifying rounds.
11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:21.843
12. Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber Ferrari) – 1:22.103
13. Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber Ferrari) – 1:21.927
14. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing) – 1:22.364
15. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:22.011
16. Alex Albon (Williams) – 1:22.390
17. Liam Lawson (Red Bull Racing) – 1:22.411
18. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas Ferrari) – 1:22.442
19. Franco Colapinto (Williams) – 1:22.594
20. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) – 1:22.714
Looking Ahead to Race Day
The 2024 Qatar Grand Prix promises to be an exciting race, with Max Verstappen’s surprise pole position adding an extra layer of intrigue. Verstappen will look to hold his position at the front, but McLaren’s strong performance with Norris and Piastri in the top four could make for a thrilling race. The race is scheduled on Sunday.