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.
He said he was satisfied with his performance in tricky conditions with a gusty wind blowing sand and dust across the newly re-surfaced asphalt of the Lusail International Circuit.
"It's a great start to the weekend," said Verstappen, who celebrated his birthday last weekend. "I'm happy to be on pole and it has been a good day for us."
'Working so well'
"Of course, I want to win this race whatever happens tomorrow. We have got pole and I want to win it (Sunday's Grand Prix), but first let's be quick and do the job tomorrow.
"It will be difficult for the tyres with all this sand on the track, but our car is working so well."
It was the 30th pole position overall in Verstappen's career.
After much post-session confusing, Hamilton was declared third for Mercedes ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Embattled
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