F1 2024 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Race starting grid with penalties applied...

F1 2024 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Race starting grid with penalties applied

The FIA has officially confirmed the starting grid for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix sprint race at the Lusail International Circuit, following some late adjustments. Two teams made changes under parc ferme conditions, which have been reflected in the final starting order. The sprint race is set to take place at 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, with anticipation building after an eventful sprint qualifying session.

Max Verstappen has been the dominant force in sprint races throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season, securing victories in China, Miami, Austria, and Austin. However, Lando Norris has recently emerged as a strong competitor in the sprint format, clinching the most recent sprint race win in Brazil. In Qatar, it was McLaren who showcased their strength in the sprint qualifying session, with both of their drivers outperforming Ferrari. Norris secured pole position for Saturday’s race, continuing his impressive form.

George Russell of Mercedes put in a strong performance as well, splitting the McLaren duo with the second-fastest time in sprint qualifying. He will start alongside Norris on the front row, with McLaren’s rookie sensation Oscar Piastri lining up third on the grid. Russell’s performance marks another strong showing for the young Briton, who has frequently outpaced his more experienced teammate, Lewis Hamilton, in qualifying this season.

Ferrari’s drivers will start from the second row, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc qualifying fourth and fifth, respectively. While Ferrari has shown promising speed throughout the weekend, they were unable to match the pace of the McLaren drivers in sprint qualifying. Still, both Sainz and Leclerc will be eager to capitalize on their strong starting positions in the sprint race.

Red Bull had a challenging session, with Max Verstappen only managing sixth place on the grid. It was a disappointing result for the reigning world champion, who has been one of the dominant drivers in sprint races this year. Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, had an even worse day, suffering an early exit in SQ1 and qualifying down in 16th place. Perez’s recent struggles continued, and his performance in Qatar adds to a string of underwhelming results. Following the late changes made under parc ferme conditions, Perez will now start the sprint race from the pit lane.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton will line up seventh on the grid, continuing a difficult season in which he has often been outpaced by Russell in qualifying. Hamilton, who has been vocal about his frustrations with his qualifying form, will need a strong start in the sprint race to make up positions and fight for points. Despite his challenges, Hamilton remains a fierce competitor and will be looking to extract the most from his car in the sprint.

Behind Hamilton, Pierre Gasly of Alpine will start in eighth place, followed by Nico Hulkenberg of Haas in ninth. Hulkenberg’s teammate, Kevin Magnussen, will start further back in 15th. Liam Lawson, driving for VCARB, rounds out the top 10 after an impressive qualifying session.

Fernando Alonso, who has often shown impressive race craft, will start 11th for Aston Martin, while Williams driver Alex Albon will line up in 12th. Albon has been one of the standout performers this season for Williams, consistently delivering strong results, and will be looking to make progress in the sprint race.

Valtteri Bottas, driving for Sauber, qualified 13th, followed by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in 14th. Yuki Tsunoda of VCARB will start from 16th, with Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Zhou Guanyu of Sauber rounding out the grid in 17th and 18th, respectively.

Notably, Sergio Perez and Williams driver Franco Colapinto will both start the sprint race from the pit lane after making changes to their cars under parc ferme conditions.

The Qatar Grand Prix sprint race will commence at 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday, November 29, 2024. Fans across the globe can tune in at the following times: 3:00 p.m. Central European Time, 2:00 p.m. British Standard Time (BST), 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) in the United States, and 6:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) in the United States.

With a thrilling sprint race in store and a competitive starting grid, all eyes will be on Lusail as the drivers battle for vital points ahead of the main event on Sunday.