Norris gifts Piastri victory in Qatar sprint one-two for McLaren

DOHA :Lando Norris ignored team orders and gifted Oscar Piastri victory at the line in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint on Saturday as McLaren took another stride towards a first Formula One constructors' title in 26 years.

The team's lead over Ferrari, who had Carlos Sainz finish fourth and Charles Leclerc fifth, stretched to 30 points with 88 still to be won from Sunday's race and the final round in Abu Dhabi next weekend.

McLaren will win the championship under the Lusail floodlights on Sunday night if they score 15 points more than Ferrari - the equivalent of another one-two.

George Russell was third for Mercedes in the 19 lap race with team mate Lewis Hamilton sixth, Nico Hulkenberg seventh for Haas and Red Bull's Max Verstappen taking the final point a week after securing his fourth successive drivers' title.

The risky swap at the chequered flag, despite the team telling Norris to hold position with Russell close behind, was pay back for Piastri who gifted Norris a sprint victory in Brazil.

The Briton was still fighting for the championship at the time but Verstappen ended that battle in Las Vegas last Saturday.

Just 1.3 seconds divided the top four at the finish, with Australian Piastri crossing the line a mere 0.136 ahead of his team mate to take his second successive Qatar sprint win.

"It was probably a bit closer than I was wanting but I planned to do it since Brazil," Norris said of the swap.

"It's just what I thought was best. It's probably a little bit sketchy. The team told me not to do it but I thought I could get away with it, and we did.

"Honestly, I don't mind. I'm not here to win sprint races, I'm here to win (grand prix) races and a championship, but that's not gone to plan."

The Briton led from pole position