Sergio Perez was overtaken by F1 rookie Franco Colapinto after the Mexican made an embarrassing error at the start of the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race. The Red Bull star has endured a woeful run of form in recent races, where he has made multiple Q1 exits and acquired eight points in the past four grands prix.

Max Verstappen celebrated his fourth world championship by putting his Red Bull on pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix. Verstappen started sixth and finished only eighth in the earlier sprint race won by Oscar Piastri as McLaren edged closer to their first constructors’ title in 26 years.

As the laps ticked down in the Qatar Grand Prix, McLaren inched closer still to that trophy. With both Norris and Piastri running at the front of the field, they were in striking distance of their first title since 1998.