McLaren send Ferrari packing in Lusail

It’s not the final blow, the points are awarded on Sunday (and Saturday). But in the sprint classification at Losail, McLaren did send Ferrari packing. Norris took pole ahead of Russell (0.063) and Piastri (0.159) and the two Maranello cars will start fourth and fifth, with Sainz (0.269) ahead of Leclerc (0.296).

McLaren’s constructors' title chances

Ferrari is 24 points behind McLaren with 103 still up for grabs, but of the two remaining Grands Prix, Qatar offers 59 - the majority, and it is a circuit that has historically been kind to the Woking cars. The championship could go to Abu Dhabi almost decided, especially if McLaren’s trend is consolidated this weekend.

“P1 and P3, better than Vegas” exclaimed team principal Andrea Stella. “It was difficult to put perfect laps together. We have to acknowledge that Mercedes are within the same tenth, Ferrari are very close - it’s certainly not an easy ride. We have to work hard to get the points tomorrow.”

Although such a clear dominance was not expected. The Ferraris were fast in free practice and also during qualifying, until the time came to put on the soft tyre.

Sainz gave his first attempt at SQ3 and Leclerc stepped onto the gravel. At the last moment, both completed two somewhat compromised laps, because the previous ones were not good or were not at all. Meanwhile, Norris and Piastri played with plenty of room to spare and only a Russell in a state of grace snuck in after his perfect Grand Prix in Las Vegas. Verstappen was sixth. Another who did well to decide the World Championship early, because what is coming does not look so good.

Pérez out in the cold

Alonso finished 11th, on the verge of the final cut. He was probably disadvantaged by having completed his lap before all his direct rivals, because the track was evolving so much and with each passing minute, the asphalt was offering more and more grip.

Even more so with the medium tyres, which are mandatory in the first two qualifying rounds. The Spaniard nevertheless showed a more positive side to the AMR24, which was somewhat more competitive than in recent races, returning to a high-downforce track, Silverstone in the Gulf, which allowed Aston Martin to show a little more of its capabilities than in the four previous races, which counted for zero points.

Among the illustrious names eliminated from SQ1 was Pérez, hampered by Leclerc at the start of his final attempt. As consolation, he beat Tsunoda (17th) and Colapinto (20th), two who have been sounded with more or less strength as future replacements for him at Red Bull, each for their own reasons. It is no consolation that he was beaten by Lawson, who even got into SQ3 (10th) with the humble Racing Bull’s car.