With just two more Grands Prix to go but with the Driver’s world title aching already been claimed by Max Verstappen, just when it seemed that the Flying Dutchman was done and could so easily have receded to a lazy zone, Verstappen erased any such doubts at the Qatar qualifying.
In usurping George Russell in the final or dying moments of the 2024 Qatar GP quali, Verstappen stormed to a pole and reminded us once again just why’s he so highly rated and what makes him truly a world class driver. But while on a day where both Ferraris showed glimpses of pace with George Russell coming mighty close to clinching what could so easily been another bright new pole lap, there were a few surprises as also some stormy moments at the quali battle at Lusail.
SportsTiger, your go to platform for all sporting developments both in India and around the world, bring in association with Stake, key predictions for the 2024 Qatar GP:
George Russell will make life difficult for Max Verstappen
George Russell is, actually speaking, one of the blisteringly fast drivers out there and someone who, truth be told, just doesn’t fear anyone. With a great race win already under his belt and overall, two race wins this season, George Russell’s confidence will be sky high as he begins the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. He was nearly on pole and as a matter of fact, very much the provisional pole sitter at Qatar, which is when all his hard-work was spoiled by none other than Verstappen, whose late charge on the grid packed a punch. Resultantly, the Mercedes found itself passed by the domineering Red Bull.
But on race day, George Russell will take his chances and back himself to go for glory. He will push Verstappen as hard as he possibly can seconds from the start of the race. Much like the fashion in the sprint race battle where with just 5 laps to go, George Russell decided to attack Piastri to hold track position over the Australian driver ( a move that ultimately didn’t go through), the Qatar F1 race could see a familiar battle unfold between the drivers on P1 and P2, respectively.
While a race win can’t be ruled out, what’s also certain is that Verstappen won’t make thing easy for the man born in King’s Lynn, England. What’s sure is that Russell will drive like a king and outscore teammate Sir Lewis Hamilton.
Which driver from the Mercedes camp, though, will get the team’s priority where it comes to pitting first will dominate the headlines in the next few hours.
No Ferrari driver will score a podium
Throughout the course of the race weekend up to the point of the conclusion of the main qualifying round including the sprint quali and the sprint race, the two cars in red looked dominant, if not outright scary where pure speed was concerned. Sainz, on his part emerged clear of Leclerc, once again where the Sprint race of Qatar was concerned. He would gather a fourth. He beat the Monaco-born by nearly 5 seconds.
On the other hand, the man who claimed fifth in the sprint race weekend out performed his Spanish teammate for the most part of Qatar GP qualifying. Leclerc does stand a good chance to spoil the McLaren and Mercedes party this weekend. The points Ferrari fight for and ultimate claim are very vital as far as their title bid for constructor’s championship are concerned. But whether ascendency of the team in red actually happens for real is something quite different. It may not even happen for real.
One supposes that during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, Ferrari will struggle for pace and strategy and will likely just manage a top five or top seven finish. A podium for whether Leclerc and Sainz on this occasion may carry a very slim chance.
What do you reckon!
Sergio Perez will cop yet more criticism
Beginning another Formula 1 Grand Prix from a position as ordinary as ninth on the grid, the qualifying battle day for Perez at the Lusail circuit was no easy day. Rather, it was another tough pill to swallow.
Being behind a titan of the sport in Fernando Alonso and ahead of Kevin Magnussen, contesting his penultimate Formula 1 race, Sunday’s action at the Lusail may just be another hard fought outing for the man from Mexico. Earlier, Sergio Perez’s troubles were only exacerbated by the fact that he had begun his sprint race from the pits and bagged a P20 in the end.
During the race, he’ll struggle, fight hard, try his best but will finish outside the top five, which won’t be such a cool thing.
Oscar Piastri will be the outlier
Piastri delivered the opening salvo out here at Qatar by clinching victory at the 2024 sprint race held at the Lusail international circuit. It’s the same venue that’ll require the dominant but easy going Aussie driver to push his McLaren car to the limit come the race day. Having actually looked quite strong all weekend, the Qatar sprint race winner will begin his 57-lap Grand Prix race challenge from fourth in the grid.
But during the race, Piastri will test his teammate Lando Norris to the hilt and challenge the authority of the man currently on P2 (Driver’s standings) as best as he possibly can.
Resultantly, he’ll score some fine points and perhaps even a top five finish. A podium may not be that unrealistic a possibility but then it might not be a podium. Norris and Russell will, however, find Piastri a hard nut to crack or shall one say, a difficult bullet to dodge at the Qatar Grand Prix contest.
