Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Oscar Piastri had a smooth qualifying for the sprint, fastest on both his flying laps.

Lando Norris, by contrast, damaged his floor with an off during the second session, but despite that was just hundredths behind Piastri on his first lap in the final session.

He then had his last lap compromised by running behind Williams' Alex Albon and was already off the pace before running wide out of the final corner, before an off-track moment out of the final corner on his second lap, and was pipped by George Russell.

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a while since we have seen a thumbs up from Oscar Piastri but the Australian was all smiles after securing pole position ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell for the last sprint race of the year.

Piastri has been MIA from the podium since his third place at Monza in September and his 34-point lead over team-mate Lando Norris following his win at the Dutch Grand Prix in August has become a 24-point catch-up mission in the final stretch of the season.

"It's nice to be back," said the Australian, who has won the Qatar sprint twice. "The car has felt good all day. We made some good adjustments into qualifying. The pace was there all day."

Yes he can. But not until Sunday.

There are a maximum of 58 points available in the final two grands prix, 33 of them in Doha.

For Lando Norris to be crowned world champion for the first time, he would need to score two more points than Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen over the course of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.

Image source, BBC Sport

This is how the drivers' championship looks before Saturday's 100km sprint race.

Lando Norris is sitting 24 points clear of Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen with two grands prix weekends remaining. The Las Vegas Grand Prix was a blow for Norris - he would've been 30 points ahead of Piastri and 42 free of Verstappen had it not been for the double disqualification - but he is still in a position to claim his maiden F1 title this weekend in Qatar.

If the trio finish in the same places today then Norris' lead would be 22 points over Piastri and 27 points over third-placed Verstappen.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Hello, folks. This is the first opportunity for our three title contenders to score vital points this weekend in today's 19-lap sprint event. Championship leader Lando Norris is starting third on the grid, with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri taking pole position in yesterday's qualifying session.

Lights out for the final sprint race of the year is at 14:00 GMT.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, level on points with Australian Piastri after his Las Vegas win and McLaren's disqualification, struggled with a variety of issues on Friday and will line up in sixth place.

Image source, Getty Images

How many cars want to start this sprint from the pit lane? Most of the SQ1 knockouts.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, Lewis Hamilton, who had another wretched day in his Ferrari, plus Aston Martin's Lance Stroll have all made set-up changes under parc ferme conditions so it's to the pit lane they go.

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