McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole place for the dash race on the Qatar Grand Prix forward of Mercedes driver George Russell.
Norris pipped Russell by simply 0.063 seconds, with the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri in third place.
Ferrari, who’re competing with McLaren for the constructors’ championship, had been fourth and fifth, Carlos Sainz 0.027secs quicker than Charles Leclerc.
Newly topped world champion Max Verstappen was solely sixth, forward of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Norris mentioned: “It is robust as a result of it is so fast round right here, it feels just like the quickest circuit of the yr, the ultimate sector feels such as you’re simply hanging on.
“Nice qualifying, particularly to bounce again after the place we had been in Vegas final weekend.”
Norris’ hopes of beating Verstappen to the drivers’ title had been lastly extinguished in Las Vegas on a disappointing weekend for McLaren.
However they head into the ultimate two races of the season 25 factors forward of of Ferrari within the constructors’ championship.
McLaren can win the title the weekend – however provided that they rating the utmost factors doable. That may require a one-two in Saturday’s dash, which begins at 14:00 UK time, to start out the weekend.
“Our goal is a one-two,” Norris mentioned, “and maximise factors for the constructors’ however not anticipating a straightforward one.”
Russell’s sturdy kind from Las Vegas, the place he took his second win of the season with a dominant efficiency, continued on to a really completely different monitor in a really completely different desert.
“Felt actually sturdy all session,” Russell mentioned. “The automotive was actually nice and this circuit is likely one of the greatest once you get into that groove and rhythm. It is so quick.
“I went flat via the high-speed for the primary time and confused the engine a bit. Had an enormous recharge out of it as a result of it went via flat. A bit annoying as a result of I misplaced a piece on the exit however I nonetheless assume Lando was a bit out of attain.”
Ferrari’s concern that McLaren is perhaps too sturdy for them in Qatar gave the impression to be coming true – Sainz was 0.269secs off the tempo set by Norris.
Leclerc, who had been quickest by a major margin in apply earlier within the day, mentioned: “Not good as a result of once you give all of it and we’re solely P4 and P5 it’s not nice contemplating how necessary this weekend is for us.
“P1 was lots above our expectations, that is in keeping with what we anticipated. We’re coming again to actuality. There have been hopes we may do one thing higher however we did not.”
Verstappen, whose solely victory since June got here within the moist in Brazil earlier this month, was 0.303secs off the tempo.
“Simply no tempo, to be sincere,” Verstappen mentioned. “Did not have the steadiness to assault entry to mid-corner. The very excessive velocity is OK however the remainder just isn’t and it makes it tough to push.
And Hamilton’s qualifying struggles continued – he was 0.399secs slower than Russell.
“Identical as each different qualifying – not that nice,” the seven-time champion mentioned. “I am simply sluggish. Identical each weekend. Automobile felt comparatively respectable, no points. Not way more to say.”
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg and RB’s Liam Lawson accomplished the highest 10.
The second Purple Bull driver Sergio Perez was knocked out within the first session and can begin sixteenth. The Mexican, who has been knocked out in Q1 six instances this yr, blamed a battle over monitor place with Leclerc for his failure.
