Qualifying did not go as Lando Norris had hoped on the crucial weekend in which he could secure his first Formula 1 world title. The McLaren driver had entered the final session confident that he would take pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix, a result that would have greatly increased his chances of winning the race and wrapping up the championship.

Instead, Norris was beaten to pole by his teammate Oscar Piastri, who delivered a superb final lap to take the top spot on the grid. Norris will start from second, on the dirtier side of the Lusail track, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen lines up in third, creating a dramatic front row made up of the three championship contenders.

Norris currently holds a 22-point lead over Piastri and a 25-point advantage over Verstappen. The race outcome will determine whether the title is decided in Qatar or carried to the final round in Abu Dhabi. If Norris wins, he becomes world champion. If either Piastri or Verstappen takes victory, the fight continues.

Explaining what went wrong, Norris said he felt stronger than in the sprint race and believed he had improved his pace. He was even on provisional pole after the first runs but suffered a loss of grip through Turn Two during his final attempt. The understeer forced him to abandon the lap to avoid going off track and risking damage.

Despite his disappointment, Norris praised Piastri’s performance and stressed that he still felt more comfortable with the car. He also acknowledged that overtaking is difficult at Lusail, meaning whoever reaches the first corner in the lead could go on to win the race.