Lando Norris bounces back from championship loss with sprint race pole in Qatar

Norris’ pole, combined with Piastri qualifying third, hands a timely boost to McLaren as they bid to land their their first constructors’ championship since 1998.

McLaren driver Lando Norris took pole position for the sprint race in Qatar. Picture: Darko Bandic/AP

Lando Norris bounced back from his championship defeat to secure pole position for Saturday’s sprint race in Qatar.

The British driver, mocked by Max Verstappen for failing to win the title in a McLaren deemed superior to the rest of the field, saw off Mercedes’ George Russell by just 0.063 seconds.