Overview
- Norris leads the standings by 24 points with Piastri and Verstappen tied behind him, with 58 points still available across Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
- Sprint qualifying set Piastri on pole ahead of George Russell, with Norris starting third and Verstappen sixth after complaining of bouncing and balance issues.
- McLaren reaffirmed there will be no team orders unless the maths dictates, with Piastri confirming a brief internal suggestion to favour Norris was rejected and Verstappen backing that stance.
- Norris cannot seal the championship in Saturday’s sprint but can clinch the title this weekend if he outscores both rivals by two points across Qatar.
- Pirelli has imposed a tyre‑usage cap at Lusail, putting stint length and floor stress under scrutiny and adding strategic complexity for the sprint and the grand prix.