Verstappen on pole in Qatar for potential title parade

DOHA :Max Verstappen took pole position for what could be a Qatar Grand Prix title parade on Sunday if the Red Bull driver secures his third successive Formula One championship a day before.

The Dutch 26-year-old needs only three points to wrap up the championship and can score them if he finishes sixth or higher in a standalone sprint on Saturday.

"It's a great start to the weekend and the car is working well. That's all I can hope for really," Verstappen told reporters.

So relaxed and confident was the Dutchman of his time that he did just the one lap in the final phase and still ended up 0.441 faster than Mercedes' George Russell, who will start alongside on the front row.

If the qualifying session lacked some of the usual tension due to the sprint format, it introduced an element of chaos with a string of laps deleted for exceeding track limits and drivers heading to see the stewards for other potential breaches.

Verstappen's Mexican team mate Sergio Perez, the only other driver still in mathematical contention for the title but 177 points adrift, was one casualty.

He will start only 13th on the grid after having his fastest effort deleted in the second phase of the evening session under floodlights.

"It's not over but it will be very difficult to pass, especially with the track conditions. We will see what we are able to do," said Perez.

McLaren also paid a price, with Lando Norris qualifying on the front row but then having his best lap deleted for exceeding track limits and dropping to 10th.

"The team have done a good job. I just messed it up. Not a good day for me," said the Briton.

That lifted Russell to second with McLaren's Oscar Piastri up to third.

'WHERE'S LANDO?'

"Where's Lando?," asked the confused Russell as the