Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Sprint Qualifying in Qatar, edging out Mercedes’ George Russell by a slim 0.063 seconds. While Lewis Hamilton found himself off the pace, finishing nearly half a second adrift in seventh, Russell remained upbeat about his chances in Saturday’s Sprint.
Russell Confident Despite Narrow Miss
Russell, fresh off his victory in Las Vegas, praised the performance of the W15 at the high-speed Lusail circuit, acknowledging the razor-thin margin between himself and Norris.
George Russell:
“The car is great around this circuit. When you get into that groove and rhythm, it is so fast. On my last lap in Q3, I went flat through the high speed for the first time and confused the engine a bit. I lost speed on the exit, but I think Lando was just a smidge out of reach.”
With Mercedes out of contention for the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, Russell sees the Sprint as an opportunity to close the season on a high note.
Russell:
“They’re in a big championship fight. We have nothing to lose. We are going for the big results. The Sprint is just the Sprint; we need to focus on qualifying as well.”
Hamilton’s Struggles Continue
In stark contrast, Lewis Hamilton cut a frustrated figure after another underwhelming qualifying session. The seven-time world champion has struggled to match Russell in one-lap pace throughout 2024 and was characteristically blunt in his post-session assessment.
Lewis Hamilton:
“It was the same as every other qualifying—just slow. The car felt relatively decent. No issues. Not really much more to say.”
Hamilton acknowledged the challenge of making significant progress in the Sprint, especially from seventh on the grid, but remains hopeful about Sunday’s main race.
Hamilton:
“When you’re back where I am, it makes it almost impossible to compete for wins. But I’ll do what I can tomorrow. The positive is the car is fast, and George should be able to shoot for pole in the Grand Prix qualifying.”
Toto Wolff’s Game Plan
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff offered insight into the team’s strategy for the Sprint, emphasizing that the unique format allows Russell to take risks without the burden of championship implications.
Toto Wolff:
“We don’t have a lot to lose, so George can be dynamic with good race pace. I think the cars are so close, and on the long runs, overtaking is quite difficult.”
What’s at Stake
While McLaren is locked in a fierce three-way Constructors’ battle with Ferrari and Red Bull, Mercedes sees Qatar as an opportunity to build momentum for 2025. For Norris, the pole is a chance to extend his Sprint dominance after a victory in Interlagos, while Russell eyes another strong performance to finish the season on a high.
With 19 laps of Sprint racing set to unfold on Saturday, the stakes are high, and the margins are razor-thin at Lusail.
