Lusail, Qatar, 29 November 2025 (dpa/MIA) - McLaren's Oscar Piastri showed he is still in the F1 title race by topping sprint qualifying in Qatar on Friday, with championship leader Lando Norris only third.

Australian Piastri, who was quickest in sole practice earlier, set a fastest lap of 1 minute 20.055 seconds to secure sprint pole by just +0.032 ahead of Mercedes' George Russell.

"It's been a good day, which is nice for a change. It has been a day where things have clicked from the start," Piastri said after a lap record in Lusail.

He led the standings for much of the year but nerves in the second half of the season let team-mate Norris in.

Piastri added: "I'm happy with the result, a few things to tidy up but it is nice to be able to say that starting from pole. It is only the Sprint, but I'll take what I can get. The pace was there all day, hopefully we can keep that going."

Briton Norris can still win his maiden Formula One title this weekend in the desert if results go his way, despite both he and Piastri being disqualified last weekend in Las Vegas.

"The pace was there, I just made a mistake on the last corner on my first lap and just didn't put it together," Norris said of sprint qualifying.

"I'd be stupid not to try and win, I'm here to try and win. If I can at least get George off the line..."

Norris leads Piastri and four-time champion Max Verstappen by 24 points with just the Abu Dhabi race left after Qatar.

Verstappen's Red Bull had a session to forget and the Dutchman qualified sixth, one behind team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

Aston Martin's veteran Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest in the week top car designer Adrian Newey was named team principal for next year.

Lewis Hamilton's miserable first season at Ferrari continued as he was knocked out in the first round of sprint qualifying in 18th spot. The seven-times champion complained his car "couldn't go any quicker."

The sprint is on Saturday followed by qualifying for Sunday's full race.