Oscar Piastri led an all-McLaren front row as track limits dominated the Sprint Shootout at the Qatar Grand Prix.
After the disappointment of Friday, the Woking-based team managed the best possible response as the Australian pipped teammate Lando Norris by just 0.082s at Lusail.
Max Verstappen had to settle for third after being one of multiple drivers caught out by track limits violations during the session.
The action began with a 10-minute familiarisation session after the FIA moved the white line 80cm inwards on the exit of Turns 12 and 13.
This was in response to tyre concerns after Pirelli found separations in the tyres between the sidewall and topping compound following Friday’s running, blamed on the aggressive high-frequency kerbs at the Lusail track.
Once complete teams then headed into the Sprint Shootout.
SQ1
A late flier meant George Russell set the pace at the front, ahead of Verstappen and Norris in third.
With track limits a continued issue, Charles Leclerc found himself in the bottom five late on but improved to make the cut.
Instead, after his frustrations on Friday, it was Lance Stroll who again failed to progress in 16th.
Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda slipped to 17th and 18th after both having their final lap times deleted for track limits.
Kevin Magnussen was 19th and Logan Sargeant was slowest after failing to set a representative time due to track limits.
SQ2
SQ2 delivered a shock as Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in 12th after having his final flying lap deleted for track limits.
A fantastic lap from Nico Hulkenberg demoted Pierre Gasly to 11th. Valtteri Bottas was 13th, with Liam Lawson between the Finn and his Alfa Romeo teammate Zhou Guanyu in 15th.
Norris went fastest for McLaren, ahead of Russell and Sergio Perez in third.
SQ3
Track limits continued to dominate in SQ3 as Verstappen lost his first flying lap and Leclerc had his first two lap times deleted.
Instead, Norris posted the early benchmark, fractionally ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri in second.
Verstappen couldn’t match the McLarens on his final run as the Dutchman slotted into third.
But Piastri did find the speed to set a 1m24.454s and beat Norris by just under a tenth after the latter blew his final lap at the last corner.
Russell sat fourth for Mercedes, ahead of the two Ferraris with Carlos Sainz ahead of Leclerc.
Hulkenberg was seventh as Perez lost his final lap for track limits and dropped to eighth.
Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon sat ninth and 10th after both their lap times were deleted for track limits.
