Piastri Edges Norris In Qatar Practice On Crucial Weekend

McLaren's Oscar Piastri out-paced title rival and team-mate Lando Norris successful believe astatine nan Qatar Grand Prix.

The Australian, who trails Norris by 24 points successful nan title pinch 2 races to go, edged nan Briton by 0.058 seconds successful nan only convention earlier sprint qualifying, which starts astatine 17:30 UK time.

Norris, who will nan title connected Sunday if he outscores some Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 2 points complete nan weekend, was connected a faster thigh but ran wide retired of nan last corner.

Verstappen was down successful sixth place, 0.580secs disconnected nan gait aft complaining of a number of problems pinch his car done nan session.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who often performs powerfully early successful sprint weekends earlier nan earthy bid coalesces later on, was 3rd fastest, 0.386secs disconnected nan pace.

Williams' Carlos Sainz was 4th up of Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar.

Behind Verstappen, Williams' Alex Albon, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli completed nan apical 10.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was 12th arsenic some he and Leclerc looked uncomfortable successful their cars done nan convention connected nan demanding Lusail circuit.

Leclerc was complaining of a deficiency of consciousness done his powerfulness steering system.

Verstappen's problems included gearchages, damping and clipping - moving retired of electrical energy.