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- F1
Follow live F1 updates at the Lusail International Circuit as the title contenders target top spot in qualifying
Kieran JacksonFormula 1 CorrespondentSaturday 29 November 2025 18:19 GMTComments
Close'I'm pretty used to it': Lando Norris ahead of Qatar GP with 2025 F1 title at stake
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Oscar Piastri took two points out of Lando Norris' F1 world championship lead after he won the sprint race in Qatar.
Piastri converted his pole position into a comfortable victory under the thousands of bulbs that light up the Lusail International Circuit to reduce Norris' advantage at the top to 22 points with 50 to play for.
Norris finished third, while Max Verstappen made up two places after overtaking Fernando Alonso and Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda on the first lap of the 19-lap dash to take the chequered flag in fourth. However, the Red Bull driver now trails Norris by 25 points. George Russell started and ended the 19-lap dash to the chequered flag in second.
Norris will be crowned champion if he outscores Piastri by four points, and finishes ahead of Verstappen in any position, in Sunday's main event.
Follow live coverage of the Qatar Grand Prix with The Independent
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F1 QATAR GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix started at 6pm (GMT)
- Oscar PIastri won the Qatar sprint race; Russell 2nd; Norris 3rd
- Norris's lead is now 22 points to Piastri and 25 points to Verstappen
- PREVIEW: How Max Verstappen clawed back 104-point deficit in F1 title race over just seven races
Lewis Hamilton out in Q1!
A third straight Q1 elimination for Hamilton - he’s OUT in P18 once more!
Yuki Tsunoda is also out in P16!
Bottom-five (16-20) and out in Q1: Tsunoda, Ocon, Hamilton, Stroll, Colapinto
Top-3: Russell, Norris, Piastri
Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 18:19Yuki Tsunoda in drop-zone
Red Bull need Yuki right up there - but he needs a lap here!
Current bottom-five (16-20): Lawson, Tsunoda, Ocon, Stroll, Colapinto
2 minutes left in Q1!
Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 18:16Lando Norris up to P1
Solid lap from Lando - up to P1, 0.077 secs ahead of Piastri in second.
Track is ramping up a lot now!
Current bottom-five (16-20): Lawson, Tsunoda, Ocon, Stroll, Colapinto
Verstappen: “When I’m downshifting, the engine breaks and the car jumps.”
Still safe for now, but unideal for Red Bull’s main man.
4:00 to go in Q1...
Lando Norris (AP)Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 18:14Lewis Hamilton goes P6
Three-tenths off top spot (currently occupied by Hadjar), but safe (for now) in sixth for Hamilton.
Norris P15... but probably has time for two more laps.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Hulkenberg, Albon, Sainz, Ocon, Colapinto
Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 18:11Lewis Hamilton in early danger-zone
Surely Lewis Hamilton can find some pace after his last few qualifying nightmares?
Not yet. Down in P18 after the first runs. Time to spare though.
Current bottom-five (16-20) Ocon, Stroll, Hamilton, Albon, Colapinto
Norris off the pace too, down in P8.
1100 to go in Q1...
Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 18:07Ollie Bearman quickest early on
About eight runners so far, with Bearman on top.
None of the frontrunners rushing out though...
1400 to go in Q1.
Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 18:04Q1 underway
Big queue at the end of the pit-lane as we get underway with qualifying in Qatar!
The usual reminder: 18 minutes for Q1, where we’ll lose the slowest five cars from the rest of qualifying.
Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 17:59Norris - leader; Piastri +22; Verstappen +25
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 17:58Qatar GP qualifying
This could be the clincher in the F1 world championship!
It’s tough to overtake around the Lusail circuit, placing even more emphasis on qualifying this evening.
Oscar Piastri has the monentum this weekend but can McLaren teammate Lando Norris respond? And what about Max Verstappen - does he have one last throw of the dice?
Qualifying coming right up!
Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 17:54When can Lando Norris win the 2025 F1 world championship?
Piastri won the sprint, closing the gap to 22 points, but Verstappen is now 25 points off Norris.
Therefore, the earliest Norris can win the title is still the Grand Prix in Qatar on Sunday 30 November. Norris will be crowned champion if he outscores Piastri by four points, and finishes ahead of Verstappen in any position, in Sunday's main event.
A points advantage of more than 25 points by the end of the Qatar Grand Prix would see him win the title with one race to spare.
McLaren driver Lando Norris following the sprint race at the Lusail International Circuit. (David Davies/PA Wire)Kieran Jackson29 November 2025 17:47Newer1 / 11OlderMore about
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