McLAREN DOMINATE SPRINT AS RUSSELL CLAIMS QATAR GP POLE IN THRILLING SATURDAY OF FORMULA 1® ACTION

The FORMULA 1® QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2024 continued to captivate fans on the Super Saturday , with Lusail International Circuit announcing a complete sellout across all ticket categories as spectators filled the grandstands for an action-packed schedule featuring the final F1® Sprint race of the season, qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix, and exciting support race action.

The day began with the first race of the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East, where Janne Stiak from DHL Team dominated the overall classification with a winning time of 13:06.483. Angus Whiteside (Proton Huber Competition) and James Wallis (Porsche Junior GB) rounded out the overall podium after an intense six-lap battle on the 5.38km circuit. Notable performances included Qatar's Abdulla Al Khelaifi (QMMF), who impressed with a strong fifth place overall finish and second in the ProAm category, setting the fastest lap time in his category 0.092 seconds ahead of  ProAm leader Saud Al Saud (Saudi Racing).

F1® Academy's qualifying session showcased emerging talent, with Doriane Pin of Mercedes operated by Prema securing pole position with a time of 1:55.267. Maya Weug (Scuderia Ferrari operated by Prema) and Abbi Pulling (Alpine operated by Rodin) lined up second and third respectively for the first F1® Academy race later on Saturday, with Weug just 0.206 seconds behind Pin and Pulling a further 0.064 seconds back. The top three qualifiers all demonstrated impressive pace, with their times separated by less than three tenths of a second.

The afternoon's highlight came with the F1® Sprint race, delivering 19 laps of intense wheel-to-wheel action. McLaren's Oscar Piastri secured pole position with a time of 27:03.010, with teammate Lando Norris completing a McLaren 1-2 just 0.136 seconds behind. George Russell claimed third for Mercedes after an intense but ultimately unsuccessful battle with Piastri, crossing the line 0.410 seconds behind the leader. The sprint format provided fans with non-stop racing action, highlighted by these dramatic battles at the front of the field, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap of the race with a 1:23.923 on lap 18.

The FIA Formula 2™ Championship Sprint Race added to the day's excitement, with Oliver Bearman of PREMA Racing taking the checkered flag after a thrilling 23-lap battle. Jak Crawford (DAMS Lucas Oil) crossed the line just 0.295 seconds behind in second place, while Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport) completed the podium in third, setting the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:38.630 on lap 20. The intense racing saw the top three finishers separated by just 0.580 seconds across the 124.365 km distance.

As night fell, the spotlight turned to F1® qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix, where Mercedes' George Russell will start from pole position following a stewards' decision that dropped Max Verstappen to second place. Russell's time of 1:20.575 initially put him second, but Verstappen's penalty for driving unnecessarily slowly during qualifying elevated the Mercedes driver to his first pole position of the season. McLaren's Lando Norris will start third after setting a time of 1:20.772, setting up what promises to be an exciting battle at the front of the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix.

The evening concluded with F1® Academy's first race of the weekend, where newly-crowned champion Abbi Pulling secured second place, finishing 6.747 seconds behind race winner Doriane Pin who led a commanding victory with a time of 26:57.842 and set the fastest lap of 1:54.996. Maya Weug completed the podium, crossing the line 9.907 seconds behind the leader. The race served as a fitting coronation for Pulling, whose remarkable season saw her never finish below third place, building an insurmountable 95-point championship lead over her closest rival Pin through consistently dominant performances throughout the year.

Fan engagement reached new heights with two Fan Forums, giving supporters unique opportunities to meet their favorite drivers and receive exclusive merchandise. The Lusail Hill viewing area continued to prove popular, offering spectators an elevated perspective of the high-speed action.

Gates open at 12:00 PM for  the Sunday's Grand Prix, promising even more excitement. The main race will begin at 19:00 local time, with a spectacular finish under the Lusail lights expected around 21:00.

Ticket holders are reminded that complimentary Metro passes are available for redemption at the goldclub office at any Doha Metro station or selected Lusail Tram stations. The Doha Metro will operate extended hours from Sunday 5:30 AM to 2:30 AM on Monday, with complimentary shuttle services running from Lusail QNB Station to the circuit.