Mercedes driver George Russell will start on pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was penalised one place for impeding his riva.
Verstappen started sixth and finished only eighth in the Saturday sprint race won by Oscar Piastri as McLaren edged closer to their first constructors’ title in 26 years.
But the Dutch driver returned to form for qualifying for Sunday’s 57-lap main event by seeing off Mercedes’ George Russell by just 0.055 seconds to take both his and Red Bull’s first pole since Austria exactly five months ago.
However, at 1:06 local time, more than three hours after qualifying ended, it was confirmed that Verstappen had been penalised one place for impeding Russell as both drivers geared up for their final laps. Lando Norris, who handed team-mate Piastri victory in the sprint race earlier on Saturday – with McLaren securing a one-two finish to move 30 points clear of Ferrari – remains third.
F1 QATAR GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- The race in Qatar on Sunday starts at 4pm (GMT)
- Max Verstappen stripped of pole position with George Russell promoted
- Verstappen penalised one place for impending Russell in qualifying
- Click HERE for the starting grid in Qatar
What time is the Qatar Grand Prix?
Saturday 30 November 2024 19:49
Kieran Jackson
Time GMT
Sunday 1 December
- Race: 4pm
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Drivers Parade!
15:06
Kieran Jackson
Driver Standings ahead of Qatar Grand Prix
15:00
Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen - 404 points (champion)
2. Lando Norris - 347 points
3. Charles Leclerc - 323 points
4. Oscar Piastri - 276 points
5. Carlos Sainz - 264 points
6. George Russell - 223 points
7. Lewis Hamilton - 211 points
8. Sergio Perez - 152 points
9. Fernando Alonso - 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg - 37 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda - 30 points
12. Pierre Gasly - 26 points
13. Lance Stroll - 24 points
14. Esteban Ocon - 23 points
15. Kevin Magnussen - 14 points
16. Alex Albon - 12 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo - 12 points
18. Ollie Bearman - 7 points
19. Franco Colapinto - 5 points
20. Liam Lawson - 4 points
21. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant - 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points
REVIEW: The never-ending legacy of Ayrton Senna continues in dynamic Netflix bio-drama
14:44
Kieran Jackson
There’s something about sport, and the global fandom the lead protagonists generate, which triggers a propensity to hero-worship. Add to that the lives of fallen heroes, particularly those taken too soon, and the deep-rooted desire to remember and reminisce are intertwined with anniversaries and depictions in modern drama. Whether it be Netflix, Prime or Apple TV, they’re all at it.
Yet as 2024 nears its conclusion, there really can be no doubting the omnipresent legacy Brazilian idol Ayrton Senna left on the world.
Full piece below:
A reminder of the starting grid for the Qatar Grand Prix:
14:35
Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell
2. Max Verstappen*
3. Lando Norris
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Carlos Sainz
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Sergio Perez
10. Kevin Magnussen
11. Pierre Gasly
12. Zhou Guanyu
13. Valtteri Bottas
14. Yuki Tsunoda
15. Lance Stroll
16. Alex Albon
17. Liam Lawson
18. Nico Hulkenberg
19. Franco Colapinto
20. Esteban Ocon
* Verstappen has been penalised one place for impeding Russell in qualifying
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying P6....
14:29
Kieran Jackson
“I can’t explain why I’m half-a-second off my teammate, it’s never happened before in my career. The car felt generally fine for me. There’s not much more I can add.
“I’m hoping with the changes we made we will have a bit more pace tomorrow.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after qualifying P5...
14:03
Kieran Jackson
“I felt like I did a really good job, both laps on the limit, but it was just not enough. We have to maximise the points on a weekend which has been difficult for us. Everything to play for in the race tomorrow.”
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Sergio Perez after qualifying P9...
13:40
Kieran Jackson
“We made some good progress, which is positive. I hope that tomorrow we will have the pace in the race, we want to be scoring some good points.
“Hope we can go through the pack, the direction we went with the car was promising.”
What is the starting grid for the Qatar Grand Prix?
13:15
Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell
2. Max Verstappen*
3. Lando Norris
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. Carlos Sainz
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Sergio Perez
10. Kevin Magnussen
11. Pierre Gasly
12. Zhou Guanyu
13. Valtteri Bottas
14. Yuki Tsunoda
15. Lance Stroll
16. Alex Albon
17. Liam Lawson
18. Nico Hulkenberg
19. Franco Colapinto
20. Esteban Ocon
* Verstappen has been penalised one place for impeding Russell, the FIA said
Max Verstappen stripped of Qatar GP pole as FIA explains verdict
13:07
Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen has been stripped of his pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix to elevate George Russell to top spot on the grid for the penultimate round of the season.
Verstappen looked to have scored his first pole in five months after he edged out Mercedes’ Russell by just 0.055 seconds at the Lusail International Circuit.
However, at 1:06 local time (10:06pm GMT), more than three hours after qualifying ended, it was confirmed that Verstappen had been penalised one place for impeding Russell as both drivers geared up for their final laps.
The sanction promoted Russell, who took a lights-to-flag victory in Las Vegas a week ago, to the front of the grid for Sunday’s 57-lap race.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz after qualifying sixth:
11:00
Kieran Jackson
“It was tricky, we were still three-tenths off on pole, I missed a tow on the last lap, I think it’s more or less where we expected to be. The car is not at its best on a track like this.
“We need to keep it under control tomorrow, we’re still in that fight, there’ll be a lot going on.”
Constructors’ Championship ahead of Qatar Grand Prix:
10:00
Kieran Jackson
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
Mick Schumacher makes shock career switch away from F1
09:00
Kieran Jackson
Mick Schumacher has decided to leave his role as a Mercedes F1 reserve driver at the end of the 2024 season.
The 25-year-old German, son of seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher, was dropped by Haas at the end of the 2022 season after a two-year run but in the two years since has been an understudy for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton at the Silver Arrows.
However, having not appeared once on an F1 weekend and having not secured a race seat for 2025, Schumacher has decided to leave the team and explore new opportunities after what he described as a “tough” two years watching in the garage.
Full story below:
Lewis Hamilton admits he is ‘definitely not fast enough anymore’ after latest qualifying setback
07:00
Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton believes he is “definitely not fast enough anymore” after enduring another disappointing qualifying performance ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.
In what is Hamilton’s penultimate weekend as a Mercedes driver before his switch to Ferrari, he qualified seventh for the sprint race at the Lusail International Circuit.
He recorded a time 0.399 seconds slower than teammate George Russell, who will start the race in second behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Full piece below:
Lewis Hamilton says he ‘doesn’t care’ after sprint race
06:00
Kieran Jackson
“I don’t have an answer,” he said when asked if they had learned anything to help them in the race.
“At this point. I really don’t care. I just want to get through these next couple of races and do my job, turn up and looking forward to the winter break.
“I woke up this morning, and I think the most important thing is to leave with gratitude. So I’m really, really grateful that I get to do what I love doing, even when there are days that I don’t love it as much, and I’m really, really so lucky to be here amongst all these other amazing athletes.”
Driver Standings ahead of the Qatar GP:
05:00
Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen - 404 points (champion)
2. Lando Norris - 347 points
3. Charles Leclerc - 323 points
4. Oscar Piastri - 276 points
5. Carlos Sainz - 264 points
6. George Russell - 223 points
7. Lewis Hamilton - 211 points
8. Sergio Perez - 152 points
9. Fernando Alonso - 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg - 37 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda - 30 points
12. Pierre Gasly - 26 points
13. Lance Stroll - 24 points
14. Esteban Ocon - 23 points
15. Kevin Magnussen - 14 points
16. Alex Albon - 12 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo - 12 points
18. Ollie Bearman - 7 points
19. Franco Colapinto - 5 points
20. Liam Lawson - 4 points
21. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant - 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points
F1 signs new long-term contract with Monza for the Italian Grand Prix
04:01
Kieran Jackson
F1 has signed a new long-term contract with Monza, keeping the famous circuit on the calendar until 2031.
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza track, 12 miles north of central Milan, has hosted the Italian Grand Prix every year bar one since the inception of the Formula One world championship in 1950.
Full story:
Lando Norris after qualifying P3...
Saturday 30 November 2024 23:58
Kieran Jackson
“Not a surprise at all. When have they ever been bad all season?
“I think we can (fight for the win). As a qualifying car, we’re a little bit off. But I’m hoping it comes back to us in the race. “
Max Verstappen stripped of pole position
Saturday 30 November 2024 22:31
Jamie Braidwood
Explaining their decision, the stewards said Max Verstappen was “driving unnecessarily slowly considering the circumstances” as he “attempted to cool his tyres” ahead of the lap in which he claimed pole.
BREAKING: Max Verstappen stripped of pole position
Saturday 30 November 2024 22:27
Jamie Braidwood
Mercedes driver George Russell has been promoted to pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was penalised one place for impeding his rival, the FIA has announced.
Explaining their decision, the stewards said Max Verstappen was “driving unnecessarily slowly considering the circumstances” as he “attempted to cool his tyres” ahead of the lap in which he claimed pole.
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Max Verstappen after finishing on pole...
Saturday 30 November 2024 19:48
Kieran Jackson
“Crazy! I did not expect that, well done to the team to give me a car which feels a bit more connected. I felt a lot better about there.
“We changed a bit on the car but I never thought it would make such a swing in performance. It felt a lot more stable over one lap. Very happy to be on pole, it’s been a while.
“It’s going to be a tough race physically and on the tyres. It’s all about managing that. It’s all very close behind, they were all quick.”
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: George Russell after qualifying second..
Saturday 30 November 2024 19:35
Kieran Jackson
“It’s been a great run, the last four qualifyings we’ve been on the front row everyone! Feeling in a groove at the moment, my first lap was one of the best I’ve ever done. Max pipped me, but the car has been so great the last two weekends.
On being blocked by Max: “I went through the gravel, hope it didn’t damage the floor. It was a hairy one two corners before we start the lap.”
“These have been great races for us. Pace in Vegas was true, the pace this weekend is real - it’s nice to be in the mix once again.”
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Max Verstappen under investigation
Saturday 30 November 2024 19:27
Kieran Jackson
George Russell believes Verstappen held him up, dangerously, on an out-lap.
It looked a bit close for comfort... but I think the Red Bull man should be fine!
Here’s the incident below:
"Super dangerous by Verstappen"
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 30, 2024
George Russell was NOT happy with Max Verstappen pic.twitter.com/2DY61rngQU
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Lando Norris after qualifying P3...
Saturday 30 November 2024 19:23
Kieran Jackson
“Not the position we were hoping for but the maximum we could do, for sure. My lap was pretty good but just not quick enough.
“Everyone saw how close it was between all of us, not a lot in it! We showed good racepace today, I was in clean air, but I expect a tougher race tomorrow.”
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: TOP-10 IN QUALIFYING
Saturday 30 November 2024 19:12
Kieran Jackson
1. Max Verstappen - 1:20:520
2. George Russell - +0.055
3. Lando Norris - +0.252
4. Oscar Piastri - +0.309
5. Charles Leclerc - +0.332
6. Lewis Hamilton - +0.491
7. Carlos Sainz - +0.521
8. Fernando Alonso - +0.731
9. Sergio Perez - +0.905
10. Kevin Magnussen - +0.980
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Max Verstappen on pole position!
Saturday 30 November 2024 19:03
Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen claims pole! By less than a tenth to George Russell!
Bit of a shock and a turnaround from earlier today! His first pole since Austria in June!
3-10: Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Alonso, Perez, Magnussen
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Norris backs off again!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:59
Kieran Jackson
Confirmed: Norris will just have one more shot then!
Final quali laps coming right up here!
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Max Verstappen goes P2!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:56
Kieran Jackson
Verstappen goes quicker ahead of the final laps, to go second, just half-a-tenth down on Russell...
And Norris is actually going to go for two hot laps here!
4:00 to go in Q3...
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: George Russell on provisional pole!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:54
Kieran Jackson
Russell sets the timesheet alight, to go fastest by three-tenths to Charles Leclerc - with Lewis Hamilton in third!
4-10: Sainz, Piastri, Magnussen, Perez, Verstappen, Norris, Alonso
Lando Norris opted to dive into the pits on his hot lap after almost losing it at turn 5! He’ll only have one more chance for pole...
6:00 to go in Q1...
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Q3 underway!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:47
Kieran Jackson
Time for the top-10 shootout - who will be on pole position in Qatar?!
10 drivers involved: Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Alonso, Magnussen
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Sergio Perez just sneaks through!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:42
Kieran Jackson
Perez is through by 0.012 seconds to Pierre Gasly!
Lewis Hamilton was P5 in the end!
Bottom-five and out in Q2 (11-15): Gasly, Zhou, Bottas, Tsunoda, Stroll
Top-3: Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Lewis Hamilton can’t improve
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:37
Kieran Jackson
Hamilton stays in ninth after his second lap - will he need to go quicker?
Possibly so.
Current bottom-five (11-15): Bottas, Zhou, Tsunoda, Stroll, Alonso
Top-3: Norris, Verstappen, Russell
3:00 to go in Q2...
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Fernando Alonso has a lap deleted
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:33
Kieran Jackson
For exceeding track limits, Alonso’s lap is deleted - and he is P15 as a result.
Current bottom-five (11-15): Bottas, Zhou, Tsunoda, Stroll, Alonso
Lewis Hamilton not safe yet in P9, while Pierre Gasly impresses in P6 for Alpine!
7:00 to go in Q2...
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Q2 underway!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:25
Kieran Jackson
Time for the second phase of qualifying - 15 minutes where again we will lose the slowest five drivers before the top-10 shootout!
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Alex Albon is out in Q1!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:21
Kieran Jackson
Alex Albon knocked out right at the end by Yuki Tsunoda in a breathless end to Q1!
Nico Hulkenberg, who scored points in the sprint earlier, a surprise name in the bottom-five too!
Bottom-five and out in Q1: Albon, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Ocon
Top-3: Russell, Leclerc, Sainz
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Alex Albon heading out!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:15
Kieran Jackson
The Williams driver needs a quick lap in the closing stages of Q1 here...
Current bottom-five (16-20): Hulkenberg, Albon, Zhou, Colapinto, Ocon
Top-3: Russell, Sainz, Norris
Sergio Perez living typically precariously in P11..
4:00 to go. Times continue to tumble...
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: George Russell quickest early on!
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:09
Kieran Jackson
Russell looking to set the tone straight away as he goes quickest by two-tenths to Max Verstappen in second.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Zhou, Lawson, Colapinto, Gasly, Ocon
Plenty of time for the bottom-five to change yet!
10:00 to go in Q1...
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Q1 underway
Saturday 30 November 2024 18:00
Kieran Jackson
George Russell the first car out on track at the start of Q1 in Lusail!
A reminder: 18 minutes where we will lose the slowest five drivers from the rest of qualifying.
Russell on medium tyres straight away, presumably to wear them in ahead of the race tomorrow.
F1 Qatar GP LIVE: Track conditions!
Saturday 30 November 2024 17:59
Kieran Jackson
- 19C temperature
- 22C track temperature
- 60% humidity
- Windspeed: 12.2km/h
