The introduction of the Sprint Qualifying format meant a further shake-up to the traditional weekend layout, with the action really starting to heat up on Saturday. The Sprint Qualifying session was held in the morning, with drivers vying for position ahead of the Sprint later that day. 

Norris showed his class once again, securing pole position for the Sprint. Behind him, Mercedes' George Russell and Mclarens' Oscar Paistri were closest, showing solid pace but not quite matching Norris's straight-line speed. 

As the drivers took their positions for the Sprint Qualifying session, the tension was palpable. The race for pole was tight, and every tenth of a second mattered. Norris's commanding performance was, however, the highlight, reaffirming his status as the man to beat this weekend.

Later on Saturday, the Sprint Race took center stage. This short-format event, lasting only 309 kilometers, offers an action-packed spectacle that often features dramatic wheel-to-wheel racing and strategic gambles. Norris, starting from pole, took an early lead, but the battle for the podium was far from straightforward. 

Paistri, Russell, and Sainz all had strong starts and made their moves early, while the midfield battle was chaotic. The tight confines of the Lusail circuit made overtaking challenging, but there were several moments of high-speed drama, particularly between drivers like Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. 

Norris maintained his composure and controlled the race from the front until the very end. On the last lap, Norries slowed down enough just to let Piastri pass him for first. Piastri crossed the finish line first to secure three valuable points. Norris finished in second, while Russell took third. The Sprint served as an important reminder of just how competitive the 2024 grid is, with McLaren continuing to lead, but Ferrari and Mercedes making it clear they would not back down without a fight.

Qualifying for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix was another nail-biting affair, with the tight battle for pole position setting the stage for a thrilling race. As expected, Verstappen was the driver to beat in the final stages of Q3. 

Despite this, Verstappen posted the fastest time, but not by much. Russell, who had been showing strong pace throughout the weekend, was just a tenth of a second behind in second place, while Norris completed the top three. The result was a solid indication that the front-running teams were going to be incredibly close during the race, and the tension was building for Sunday’s main event. 

One of the surprises of qualifying came from Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who secured a spot in Q3 and demonstrated that the midfield could also deliver exciting performances. The session also saw a few surprises, as several top drivers, including Sergio Perez, faced difficulties in getting through the opening Q1 and Q2 stages.

Race day at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix was full of drama and excitement from start to finish. With Verstappen starting from pole, there was little doubt that the Dutchman would be difficult to beat. However, the unpredictability of the Lusail circuit, combined with tire management challenges, meant the race would be far from a formality.

At the start, Verstappen held onto his lead, but Norris was right behind, applying constant pressure. Behind them, Russell is also battling for position, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz also involved in some early on-track duels. The opening laps were frantic, as drivers jostled for positions, knowing that track position would be crucial in the later stages. 

The real drama came close to the end of the race when Norris was forced to take a 10-second, due to failing to slow down when a safety car was out. Making him fall all the way down to last place. Lewis Hamilton also facing a penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Meanwhile, Farreris' Charles Leclerc capitalized on Norris's penalty and taking second.

The race neared its conclusion, Verstappen’s tire degradation began to show, but his ability to defend against Leclerc's was nothing short of impressive. Despite the Farreri's driver’s best efforts, Verstappen held firm and crossed the line to secure his 9th win of the season. Leclerc finished in a close second, with Piastri rounding out the podium in third.