Runaway Formula One leader Max Verstappen dominated an intriguing floodlit qualifying session on Friday to claim pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix, which he could start as a triple world champion.
It was the 26-year-old Dutchman's 10th pole position of a commanding season for Red Bull. He wound up four-tenths of a second ahead of nearest rival George Russell, whose Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton slipped from second to fourth, and then rose to third when the two McLarens had laps scrubbed out in a confusing final flurry.
Lando Norris of McLaren was second when he crossed the line before his best late lap was deleted for exceeding track limits.
His team-mate Oscar Piastri placed third before losing his lap too. He fell to sixth. Norris dropped to 10th. Verstappen can clinch his third consecutive title before Sunday's race by finishing sixth or better in Saturday's sprint race.