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Piastri on pole; Norris 2nd; Verstappen 3rd
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Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
There is quite a high probability of a safety car here because this circuit bites you and we've seen all weekend drivers making mistakes, so that is another element in this mix.
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Max Verstappen has the power to either end or blow the World Championship battle wide open, depending on what he does into Turn 1.
Andrew
Everything crossed rooting for Lando today to bring it home! He gets a lot of negativity on social media and I'd love it for him to lift his first world title as he's driven brilliantly this season, especially after the Dutch GP when he looked down and out!
James
Image source, ReutersMcLaren's Oscar Piastri starts on pole: "I feel good, it's been a good weekend so far.
"Obviously starting from pole is the best place to be so hopefully we can have a good night, it's an interesting race with the tyre limits, so let's see what happens."
On the championship battle: "[I feel] relatively optimistic, starting from pole gives me the best chance of that and just trying to get a good start is going to be important.
"If I can do that then I feel like my chances are pretty good, but there's a lot to happen tonight."
Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Lando Norris has got the most to lose and that will be on his mind, but on the flip side of that he's also got the comfort of not needing to win this grand prix.
The downside of that is he wants to get it done, he's a racing driver and he won't want this to roll on another week.
He's got to get a good start, he's on the dirtier side of the race track, a slight disadvantage as the lights go out, but it's going to be very very close.
Image source, Getty ImagesWhat of Ferrari this weekend? Only Charles Leclerc is starting in the points today - and even then it's P10 - after another bruising qualifying session for the Italian team.
Lewis Hamilton followed his Q1 knockout in Las Vegas with another early bath in Qatar. The seven-time world champion is starting at the back of the field in 17th place, sandwiched between the Haas of Esteban Ocon and the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.
Image source, Getty ImagesFerrari failed to pick up points in the sprint and Hamilton said Alpine's Pierre Gasly commented afterwards the car looks "so bad". Leclerc, who had a big spin in Q3, echoed those words, saying the car has been "extremely difficult to drive" this weekend.
Hamilton is sixth in the drivers' championship and if he comes away empty handed from Qatar and rookie Kimi Antonelli finishes in his P5 starting position, there'll be just two points separating the pair before the last race in Abu Dhabi.
Image source, Getty ImagesWill George Russell play a part in the title fight in Qatar? The Mercedes driver is starting in fourth spot having finished second in yesterday's sprint race, splitting the two McLarens, and two places higher than Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Russell is guaranteed to finish fourth in the drivers' championship this year and he's also trying to seal second place for Mercedes in the constructors' standings. He said it was "annoying" to miss out on third "by such a small margin" but the goal for the weekend is to get P2 for the Silver Arrows. Both Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli are starting in the top five in Doha - the Italian rookie claimed fifth yesterday.
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Chances of a clash in turn/lap one involving at least 2 of the 3 title rivals? Pretty good I’d imagine.
Graham
Keeping everything crossed for Norris
Jez
Martin Brundle on Sky Sports has got the pick of the famous faces to chat to the Qatar grid. Security try and stop him speaking to tennis great Novak Djokovic but Martin has been around too long to be denied a minute or two with a guest of F1.
Gordon Ramsay thinks Lando Norris is "100%" going to be crowned champion tonight.
Time to for the national anthem.
Image source, Getty ImagesDavid Beckham has arrived at the Qatar Grand Prix
Image source, Getty Images24-time major champion Novak Djokovic poses for a picture with Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda
Image source, Getty ImagesChef and F1 fan Gordon Ramsay has been watching the action in Qatar this weekend
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Manchester United and England footballer Rio Ferdinand takes a picture at the Alpine garage
Image source, Getty ImagesPresenter Maya Jama visits the Red Bull garage
Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
It's been nothing short of perfect for Oscar Piastri this weekend. It's exactly what he needed to do and you could easily argue that he should have been doing this for the last five or six rounds.
He's got one job left and that is to get off the line well, through Turn One and control this race and win it.
Image source, Getty ImagesZak Brown thinks Max Verstappen is the Formula 1 equivalent of Halloween's Michael Myers or Nightmare on Elm Street's Freddy Krueger. "He is like that guy in the horror movie who you think is down and then suddenly it's, 'where did he come from?!'" said the McLaren boss.
From being 104 points down in the title fight in September, the Dutchman is now back in with a shout of a fifth championship in a row, an achievement which would see him match seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, after making the podium - and taking four victories - since F1 returned from its summer break.
His Red Bull this weekend, though, has not provided Verstappen with a smooth ride, as his radio messages have been full of feedback concerning bouncing throughout the lap at Lusail. Still, he's put himself third on the today's grid, sharing a row with George Russell's Mercedes.
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One race shootout will win the Title. Oscar to win today which makes for an exciting climax.
Steven
I really hope that Norris wins this...
John
Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist
Drivers will need to make at least two pit-stops at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The mandatory two-stop has been imposed after tyre suppliers Pirelli held talks with the teams and governing body FIA regarding driver safety.
Tyres have been restricted to a maximum length of 25 laps of the Lusail International Circuit.
As the race is 57 laps, it means that one pit-stop must be made, either on or before the 25th lap.
Laps to the grid, formation laps, and laps after the chequered flag are not counted in the 25-lap stint regulation, but laps behind the safety car or virtual safety car will.
Pirelli say the measure "has been deemed necessary" following analysis of the tyres used in 2024.
BBC Sounds
Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin, former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley and BBC F1 correspondent are in position and ready to take us through the twists and turns of this potential championship decider.
You can listen on BBC Sounds, by asking your smart speaker to 'play 5 Sports Extra" or by clicking the 'listen live' tab at the top of this page.
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesThe potential scenarios are many heading into the penultimate grand prix of the season on the fast and demanding Lusail circuit but the basic maths are simple - if Lando Norris wins, he becomes champion; if Oscar Piastri or Max Verstappen do, the race goes on.
Which is why starting second, on the dirty side of the track, from which he is likely to make a less-good start than Piastri and Verstappen, is not exactly what Norris needed.
"Probably just the start (is my opportunity), yes," Norris said on Saturday. "Just the run down to Turn One, but I'm on the dirty side of the grid. So I don't have the highest expectations, but we'll see what we can do.
"I probably can't take risks from the dirty side of the grid. I'll make the decision when I arrive into Turn One."
Image source, Getty ImagesEveryone wants a piece of the title contenders today. Oscar Piastri entered the paddock and was met with a mobile phone right in his face.
The Australian has been the man in form this weekend on a track he's gone well at during his career. Will this late surge of performance be in vain? The end of lap 57 today will give us the answer.
Piastri has claimed pole in the sprint, won the shorter race and starts at the head of the grid again for the main event.
At the end of August, he had a 34-point lead over Lando Norris following his win at Zandvoort. As we wave goodbye to November and the 2025 capaign, he's 22 points adrift of his team-mate after a disappointing run since his third place at Monza in September.
The target in Qatar - on a track that's difficult to overtake - is to get a clean getaway off the line from pole and beat Norris to the race victory. If that happens and Norris stays second, Piastri will be 15 points behind the Briton heading to the finale in Abu Dhabi with 25 points remaining.
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesLando Norris was on provisional pole after the first runs in the final session of qualifying, having edged Oscar Piastri by just 0.035 seconds.
Through Turn One on their final runs, Norris believed he had already gained 0.1secs on his previous best, and was feeling good. But the lap went awry at the next corner.
The front of the car lost grip, and kept losing grip, and Norris had to abort to prevent going off the track.
That opened the door for Piastri, who ran thorough it with gusto to take pole by 0.108secs.
Image source, PA MediaMcLaren's Lando Norris starts in P2: "I've always enjoyed it here and there has always been some good races and hopefully we can put on a good show for everyone."
On the race and team spirit: "All good, I'm excited to get going. It's always just a cool event here, I like night races and they are always more fun.
"Two races to go so it's getting exciting for everyone, but it's normal stuff, head down and keep focus."
Image source, Getty ImagesThe smile was wide and bright on the face of Lando Norris as he arrived in the paddock earlier on, so he's looking relaxed before his big day in Doha.
So, what does the 26-year-old need to do to become world champion for the first time?
If Norris finishes 26 points or more ahead of Oscar Piastri after the race in Qatar and also at least 25 points in front of Max Verstappen he will win the title.
His easiest route to glory is overtaking Piastri and winning the grand prix tonight.
If he doesn't win, he can still clinch the title in Qatar if he outscores Piastri by at least four points and finishes ahead of Verstappen.
Should that not happen the championship fight will go on to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
In the constructors' championship, Mercedes' double podium in Las Vegas has edged them one step closer to grabbing the runners-up spot in the 2025 standings. The Silver Arrows are 41 points clear of Red Bull in third, who in turn are 22 points ahead of fourth-placed Ferrari.
In the midfield, Aston Martin have moved above Haas and into seventh place after Fernando Alonso's points finish in Saturday's final sprint race of the season. The advantage is only one point, however, two-time world champion Alonso is starting inside the top 10 once again in eighth spot.
Racing Bulls in sixth have a small cushion of 16 points between themselves and Aston Martin but their driver Isack Hadjar made another Q3 appearance in his rookie campaign and will start sixth in Qatar.
Oscar Piastri's sprint win yesterday shaved two points off Lando Norris' title advantage but the Briton is still in control of his own destiny before we go racing in Qatar tonight, as he's 22 points clear of the Australian with two races remaining and 50 points left to play for.
Third-placed Max Verstappen is 25 points behind Norris but the Dutchman has won the past two grands prix here. Last year's edition saw him triumph from second on the grid (demoted from pole) after a penalty for Norris.
Image source, Getty Images| Rank | Driver | Number | Fastest Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oscar Piastri  McLaren | 81 | 1:20.924 | 29 |
2 | Lando Norris  McLaren | 4 | 1:20.982 | 28 |
3 | Fernando Alonso  Aston Martin | 14 | 1:21.310 | 26 |
4 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:21.404 | 20 |
5 | Isack Hadjar  RB | 6 | 1:21.503 | 30 |
6 | Max Verstappen  Red Bull | 1 | 1:21.504 | 27 |
7 | Alexander Albon  Williams | 23 | 1:21.609 | 29 |
8 | Charles Leclerc  Ferrari | 16 | 1:21.668 | 31 |
9 | Lance Stroll  Aston Martin | 18 | 1:21.669 | 26 |
10 | Kimi Antonelli  Mercedes | 12 | 1:21.698 | 32 |
11 | Nico Hulkenberg  Sauber | 27 | 1:21.783 | 23 |
12 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:21.794 | 28 |
13 | Yuki Tsunoda  Red Bull | 22 | 1:21.796 | 28 |
14 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:21.824 | 33 |
15 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:21.926 | 26 |
16 | Gabriel Bortoleto  Sauber | 5 | 1:21.926 | 29 |
17 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:22.096 | 30 |
18 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:22.424 | 25 |
19 | Liam Lawson  RB | 30 | 1:22.562 | 30 |
20 | Franco Colapinto  Alpine | 43 | 1:23.529 | 26 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying 3 | Qualifying 3 | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 1:21.286 | 1:21.286 | 1:21.005 | 1:21.005 | fastest lap 1:20.055 | fastest lap 1:20.055 | Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:20.055 |
2 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 1:21.432 | 1:21.432 | 1:21.136 | 1:21.136 | 1:20.087 | 1:20.087 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.087 |
3 | Lando Norris McLaren | 4 | 1:21.398 | 1:21.398 | fastest lap 1:20.956 | fastest lap 1:20.956 | 1:20.285 | 1:20.285 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.285 |
4 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:21.276 | 1:21.276 | 1:21.272 | 1:21.272 | 1:20.450 | 1:20.450 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.450 |
5 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull | 22 | 1:21.458 | 1:21.458 | 1:21.152 | 1:21.152 | 1:20.519 | 1:20.519 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.519 |
6 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 1 | fastest lap 1:21.172 | fastest lap 1:21.172 | 1:21.036 | 1:21.036 | 1:20.528 | 1:20.528 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.528 |
7 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 1:21.555 | 1:21.555 | 1:21.376 | 1:21.376 | 1:20.532 | 1:20.532 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.532 |
8 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:21.438 | 1:21.438 | 1:21.172 | 1:21.172 | 1:20.542 | 1:20.542 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.542 |
9 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 1:21.636 | 1:21.636 | 1:21.190 | 1:21.190 | 1:20.622 | 1:20.622 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.622 |
10 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 1:21.721 | 1:21.721 | 1:21.212 | 1:21.212 | 1:20.788 | 1:20.788 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.788 |
11 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 1:21.399 | 1:21.399 | 1:21.433 | 1:21.433 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:21.433 |
12 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:21.526 | 1:21.526 | 1:21.494 | 1:21.494 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:21.494 |
13 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | 5 | 1:21.623 | 1:21.623 | 1:21.567 | 1:21.567 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:21.567 |
14 | Nico Hulkenberg Sauber | 27 | 1:21.327 | 1:21.327 | 1:21.631 | 1:21.631 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:21.631 |
15 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:21.773 | 1:21.773 | 1:21.666 | 1:21.666 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:21.666 |
16 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 1:21.807 | 1:21.807 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:21.807 |
17 | Liam Lawson RB | 30 | 1:21.851 | 1:21.851 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:21.851 |
18 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:22.043 | 1:22.043 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:22.043 |
19 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:22.112 | 1:22.112 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:22.112 |
20 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | 43 | 1:22.364 | 1:22.364 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:22.364 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Laps | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 19 | 26:51.033 | 8 |
2 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 19 | 4.951 behind | 7 |
3 | Lando Norris McLaren | 4 | 19 | 6.279 behind | 6 |
4 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 1 | 19 | 9.054 behind | 5 |
5 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull | 22 | 19 | 19.327 behind | 4 |
6 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 19 | 21.391 behind | 3 |
7 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 19 | 24.556 behind | 2 |
8 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 19 | 27.333 behind | 1 |
9 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 19 | 28.206 behind | 0 |
10 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 19 | 28.925 behind | 0 |
11 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | 5 | 19 | 32.966 behind | 0 |
12 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 19 | 34.529 behind | 0 |
13 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 19 | 35.182 behind | 0 |
14 | Liam Lawson RB | 30 | 19 | 36.916 behind | 0 |
15 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 19 | 38.838 behind | 0 |
16 | Nico Hulkenberg Sauber | 27 | 19 | 39.638 behind | 0 |
17 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 19 | 46.171 behind | 0 |
18 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 19 | 1:09.534 behind | 0 |
19 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 19 | 1:17.960 behind | 0 |
20 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | 43 | 19 | 1:20.804 behind | 0 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying 3 | Qualifying 3 | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 1:20.234 | 1:20.234 | fastest lap 1:19.650 | fastest lap 1:19.650 | fastest lap 1:19.387 | fastest lap 1:19.387 | Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:19.387 |
2 | Lando Norris McLaren | 4 | 1:20.157 | 1:20.157 | 1:19.861 | 1:19.861 | 1:19.495 | 1:19.495 | Qualifying 3, 1:19.495 |
3 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 1 | 1:20.472 | 1:20.472 | 1:19.985 | 1:19.985 | 1:19.651 | 1:19.651 | Qualifying 3, 1:19.651 |
4 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | fastest lap 1:20.074 | fastest lap 1:20.074 | 1:20.186 | 1:20.186 | 1:19.662 | 1:19.662 | Qualifying 3, 1:19.662 |
5 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 1:20.576 | 1:20.576 | 1:20.084 | 1:20.084 | 1:19.846 | 1:19.846 | Qualifying 3, 1:19.846 |
6 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 1:20.603 | 1:20.603 | 1:20.350 | 1:20.350 | 1:20.114 | 1:20.114 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.114 |
7 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 1:20.520 | 1:20.520 | 1:20.251 | 1:20.251 | 1:20.287 | 1:20.287 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.287 |
8 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 1:20.598 | 1:20.598 | 1:20.219 | 1:20.219 | 1:20.418 | 1:20.418 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.418 |
9 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 1:20.681 | 1:20.681 | 1:20.324 | 1:20.324 | 1:20.477 | 1:20.477 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.477 |
10 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 1:20.564 | 1:20.564 | 1:20.343 | 1:20.343 | 1:20.561 | 1:20.561 | Qualifying 3, 1:20.561 |
11 | Nico Hulkenberg Sauber | 27 | 1:20.630 | 1:20.630 | 1:20.353 | 1:20.353 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:20.353 |
12 | Liam Lawson RB | 30 | 1:20.539 | 1:20.539 | 1:20.433 | 1:20.433 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:20.433 |
13 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 1:20.548 | 1:20.548 | 1:20.438 | 1:20.438 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:20.438 |
14 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | 5 | 1:20.653 | 1:20.653 | 1:20.534 | 1:20.534 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:20.534 |
15 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 1:20.629 | 1:20.629 | 1:20.629 | 1:20.629 | not available | not available | Qualifying 2, 1:20.629 |
16 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull | 22 | 1:20.761 | 1:20.761 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:20.761 |
17 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 1:20.864 | 1:20.864 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:20.864 |
18 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 1:20.907 | 1:20.907 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:20.907 |
19 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 1:21.058 | 1:21.058 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:21.058 |
20 | Franco Colapinto Alpine | 43 | 1:21.137 | 1:21.137 | not available | not available | not available | not available | Qualifying 1, 1:21.137 |
| Rank | Driver | Number | Grid | Pits | Fastest Lap | Race Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Oscar Piastri McLaren | 81 | 1 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
2 | Lando Norris McLaren | 4 | 2 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
3 | Max Verstappen Red Bull | 1 | 3 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
4 | George Russell Mercedes | 63 | 4 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
5 | Kimi Antonelli Mercedes | 12 | 5 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
6 | Isack Hadjar RB | 6 | 6 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
7 | Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams | 55 | 7 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
8 | Fernando Alonso Aston Martin | 14 | 8 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
9 | Pierre Gasly Alpine | 10 | 9 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
10 | Charles Leclerc Ferrari | 16 | 10 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
11 | Nico Hulkenberg Sauber | 27 | 11 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
12 | Liam Lawson RB | 30 | 12 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
13 | Oliver Bearman Haas | 87 | 13 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
14 | Alexander Albon Williams | 23 | 14 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
15 | Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull | 22 | 15 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
16 | Esteban Ocon Haas | 31 | 16 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
17 | Lewis Hamilton Ferrari | 44 | 17 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
18 | Lance Stroll Aston Martin | 18 | 18 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
19 | Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber | 5 | 19 | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |
not available | Franco Colapinto Alpine | 43 | not available | 0 | not available | no time | 0 |