Oscar Piastri: We're in great form this weekend.

Oscar Piastri: We're in great form this weekend.

      Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in sprint qualifying in Qatar and will start Saturday's sprint from pole for the second time this season. The Australian McLaren driver is pleased with the result and thanked the team for the quick car.

      Championship leader Lando Norris made a mistake on the decisive flying lap, running off the track at the final corner. Lando will start third and hopes to hold his position.

      Oscar Piastri (1st): "Great day, so I'm happy. It's one of those days when everything works as it should from the very beginning. And the sprint qualifying went really well.

      On the fast lap I had a scary moment, but I still had enough margin for first place. Thanks to the team for a great car — we're in excellent shape this weekend, and I'm pleased with that.

      Of course, there are areas that still need work and improvement, but it's nicer to say that when you're starting from pole. So I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Of course, the sprint only awards a few points, but I'm fine with that too.

      On sprint weekends it's hard to assess the pecking order, but today we've been quick all day and got a good idea of our capabilities before qualifying. The car had pace all day."

      Lando Norris (3rd): "The car had pace, but I made a mistake in the last corner. I just couldn't put the lap together.

      It would be foolish of me not to try to fight for the win tomorrow, but it's almost impossible to overtake on this track, so I'll most likely finish third. The best I can hope for is second place if I can get past George Russell at the start."

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It has greatly surprised me that he will now be transitioning more toward team management." In contrast, Alonso staunchly supported the decision, claiming that Newey had already been functioning as a leader. Speaking to AS newspaper in Qatar, he said, "He was already at the forefront of the technical development of the car and the team, pinpointing the necessary personnel and areas needing improvement. Internally, he was conducting a lot of management, while Andy was managing engine integration with the chassis." The Spaniard emphasized the importance of Newey's leadership given the team's rapid evolution. "This team is still quite young," he remarked. "We need guidance from leaders like Adrian. We have the two most successful figures in the history of the sport—Adrian Newey and Andy Cowell." According to Alonso, the new title merely formalizes what had already been occurring. "He was somewhat of a behind-the-scenes leader," he noted. "He would have been in charge of everything even without the official 'team principal' designation. With Cowell concentrating more on the engine, fuel, and Honda, everyone is effectively in their role." Alonso did express hope that Newey would still have adequate time to focus on his evident strength—design. "The role of team principal is different these days—media, sponsors, commitments," he said. "I hope Adrian won’t have to take on all those responsibilities and can focus on the crucial aspects." Christian Horner had been considered for the position before Newey's appointment, with reports suggesting that Newey even took his former Red Bull boss on a tour of the Silverstone factory last week. Ultimately, Lawrence Stroll did not extend an offer to him. "I don’t think we need any additional people in leadership," Alonso concluded. "But that’s not my responsibility." 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Oscar Piastri: We're in great form this weekend.

Oscar Piastri posted the fastest time in sprint qualifying in Qatar and will start Saturday's sprint from pole for the second time this season.