Lawson Battles to 14th in Qatar Sprint Race, Piastri Shines

Liam Lawson demonstrated resilience at the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix, finishing in 14th place after a competitive sprint race. The event took place at the Losail Circuit, where Lawson improved from his previous qualifying performance. He recorded the 12th fastest time during qualifying, a significant step up from his 17th place in the sprint race on Friday.

Despite narrowly missing the top 10 by just 0.083 seconds, Lawson’s 12th place starting position marks an improvement from his 18th place in the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix and 17th last year. His performance outshone that of his Red Bull rival, Yuki Tsunoda, who faced elimination in the first qualifying session for the third consecutive Grand Prix. Both drivers are currently in discussions regarding their future with the team for the upcoming season.

The day showcased Oscar Piastri of McLaren as a standout performer. Piastri not only won the sprint race but also secured pole position for the Grand Prix, positioning him for a potential full set of 33 points this weekend. His teammate and championship leader, Lando Norris, finished second after a late error cost him a chance at a final qualifying lap. Max Verstappen from Red Bull will start third.

As the season approaches its conclusion with only two Grand Prix remaining, Norris leads Piastri by 22 points and Verstappen by 25 points in the championship standings. Lawson’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, showed impressive form as well, qualifying in sixth place, with reports suggesting his promotion to Red Bull is imminent.

During the sprint race, Lawson made an impressive move from 16th to 14th, becoming one of four drivers to gain two positions. He successfully overtook the Haas of Esteban Ocon and the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg on the opening lap. Lawson kept close to Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who struggled early in the race, falling from ninth to 13th.

Lawson remained within one second of Leclerc to utilize his Drag Reduction System (DRS), but patience was required for a successful overtake. On lap 11, when Leclerc went off track at turn 10, Lawson seized the opportunity to pass. However, Racing Bulls instructed him to relinquish the position, deeming he had gained an unfair advantage by leaving the track. By the end of lap 14, Leclerc had established a gap, preventing Lawson from advancing further.

The full Qatar Grand Prix will commence at 05:00 on Monday, promising another thrilling round in the ongoing Formula One season.

The qualifying results for the Qatar Grand Prix are as follows:

1. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
2. Lando Norris – McLaren
3. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
4. George Russell – Mercedes
5. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
6. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls
7. Carlos Sainz – Williams
8. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
9. Pierre Gasly – Alpine
10. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
11. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber
12. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls
13. Ollie Bearman – Haas
14. Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber (5 place penalty)
15. Alex Albon – Williams
16. Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull
17. Esteban Ocon – Haas
18. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
19. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
20. Franco Colapinto – Alpine

The sprint race results were as follows:

1. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
2. George Russell – Williams
3. Lando Norris – McLaren
4. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
5. Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull
6. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
7. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
8. Carlos Sainz – Williams
9. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls
10. Alex Albon – Williams
11. Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber
12. Ollie Bearman – Haas
13. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
14. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls
15. Esteban Ocon – Haas
16. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber
17. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
18. Pierre Gasly – Alpine
19. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
20. Franco Colapinto – Alpine

As the action unfolds in Qatar, fans are eagerly anticipating the next stages of the championship battle and the potential for Lawson and his team to make further strides.