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Oscar Piastri may have left it late in the championship race, but the Australian is certainly not going out without a fight. The McLaren driver took pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix Saturday, just hours after winning the Sprint to cut teammate Lando Norris’s lead to 22 points at the floodlit Lusail International Circuit. Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen, the only other driver still in title contention and 25 points adrift of the Briton, qualified fourth for Red Bull. Norris initially topped the leaderboard after the opening laps of Q3 but, following a brief delay to clear debris, the championship leader ran wide at Turn 2 on his final push lap and backed off. That opened the door for Piastri, who responded decisively to Norris’s early gambit. The Australian delivered a superb 1m 19.387s on his second flying lap, enough to secure pole by 0.108s. Norris, who knows victory in today’s race will seal his maiden Formula 1 title, was left frustrated after appearing slightly distracted on his out-lap while negotiating George Russell’s Mercedes before the Turn 2 error scuppered his last attempt. Piastri was delighted with his qualifying effort. “We left the car pretty much the same, very minor tweaks here and there, but everything has been feeling great all weekend, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it,” he said. “It was really good. We had a question mark on which tyres to use because I did a quick lap on a used set in Q2, but Q3 was really good on the new tyres.” On the physical challenge of today’s race, he noted: “Pretty tough. I think with the two stops, we’re probably going to be pushing hard the whole time. It won’t be as hot as a couple of years ago but I’m expecting it to be a tough race. You’re pulling G forces at multiple points on the lap, so it’s hard work but incredible fun.” Norris, meanwhile, offered no excuses for his costly mistake as he praised his teammate. “I just got a bit of understeer and was going to go off, so I had to abort. Which is a shame, but that’s the way it is. Oscar did a good lap and has driven very well all weekend, so nothing to complain about – just didn’t do the lap. The first couple of laps are opportunities for everyone, but after that it should probably be straightforward,” he said. Verstappen ended the session just over a tenth further back. The Dutchman must finish ahead of Norris today to keep his title hopes alive and take the fight to the Abu Dhabi finale. Verstappen admitted Red Bull still lack pace but remained optimistic. “This qualifying was a little bit better. We are still quite far off, but at least I felt a little bit happier. Some limitations prevent us from pushing harder around the lap, but we are P3 and starting on the second row, and that creates better opportunities because it’s hard to pass around here. We will see what we can do tomorrow,” he said Behind the leading trio, Russell and Kimi Antonelli locked out the third row for Mercedes, followed by Carlos Sainz in the Williams. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari completed the top ten. Earlier, Piastri had returned to winning ways with a dominant lights-to-flag victory in sprint race. He controlled the 19-lap dash to take his first win since the Dutch Grand Prix in August, collecting eight points to cut Norris’s lead. Norris finished where he started in third behind Russell Verstappen gained two places with a brilliant launch to finish fourth. Yuki Tsunoda and Antonelli crossed the line fifth and sixth for Red Bull and Mercedes respectively, despite both serving five-second penalties for repeated track-limits infringements. Alonso took seventh, while Sainz claiming the final point in eighth. Ferrari endured a miserable evening, with Leclerc slipping back at the start and finishing only 13th. Lewis Hamilton fared even worse, crossing the line 17th on what is turning into another deeply frustrating weekend for the seven-time world champion. Source link
The last time Oscar Piastri stood on a podium was at the Italian Grand Prix in September. His most recent Grand Prix victory came a month earlier in the Netherlands, when he held a 34-point lead over McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Since then, however, the Australian has endured a sharp dip in form, slipping 24 points behind Norris in the title race with just two Grands Prix remaining. But Piastri will hope to chip away at that deficit after securing pole position yesterday for the Qatar sprint race at the Lusail International Circuit. Today, Piastri will chase a third successive sprint victory in Qatar, though it is the later qualifying session for tomorrow’s Grand Prix that will ultimately determine whether the title fight carries into next weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi. There are 58 points still available: eight in today’s 100km sprint, and 25 each from the final two Grands Prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Mercedes’ George Russell will line up alongside Piastri on the front row after producing another superb lap, while Norris will start third, having run into traffic on his final attempt. He began his last lap tucked up behind Williams’ driver Alex Albon, costing him crucial time throughout the run. Behind the leading trio, Fernando Alonso impressed to secure fourth. Reigning four-time champion Max Verstappen – who also trails Norris by 24 points – could manage only sixth, slotting in behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Verstappen complained about severe bouncing throughout qualifying and was unhappy with the setup of his Red Bull car. Piastri admitted it was “nice to be back” having slightly shifted momentum away from Norris in their title fight. “It’s been a good day, which is nice for a change,” said Piastri, a smile returning to his face. “It’s been a day where things have clicked from the start, and I think the sprint qualifying session went really well. I had a pretty big moment on my lap but it was just enough in the end, so thanks to the team – it’s a great car and it’s looked really good this weekend so far. I’m pretty happy with that.” The other Mercedes driver, Kimi Antonelli, was seventh ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz, while Charles Leclerc was the sole Ferrari inside the top 10 in ninth. Albon rounded out the top 10. It was another poor qualifying for Lewis Hamilton, who was knocked out in the first session, his time only good enough for 18th on the grid. Verstappen set the early pace in the opening phase, prompting Norris to accuse him of impeding – though stewards, after reviewing the incident, opted against taking action. Norris then led phase two, ahead of Piastri, who had been quickest in the sole practice session. Piastri ultimately delivered a best lap of one minute 20.055 seconds in the final segment, 0.032 clear of Russell, whose late effort pushed Norris down to third. Norris admitted he made an error in the final corner. “I would be stupid not to try and win, but it’s impossible to overtake, so I think I will probably finish P3,” he said. “Getting past George Russell on the line is probably the best I can hope for.” Norris can become Britain’s 11th world champion this weekend in Qatar. To achieve it, he must simply outscore both Piastri and Verstappen by two points, ensuring he reaches Abu Dhabi with a decisive 26-point advantage. A top-six result in the sprint, paired with victory in tomorrow’s Grand Prix, could allow Norris to seal the title with one race remaining. Verstappen, meanwhile, faces a considerable challenge. His remarkable second half of the season – cutting a 104-point deficit since Zandvoort by finishing on every podium – has hauled him back into the fight, with four wins, two seconds, and two third-place finishes. Yet the Dutchman accepts that a fifth straight world championship will demand a sizeable measure of fortune. If he succeeds, it would stand among Formula One’s finest comebacks. During qualifying yesterday, Verstappen repeatedly complained that his car was “bouncing like crazy”. Whether his off-track moment caused any damage remains unclear, but he was out-qualified by Tsunoda for the first time this season. The Japanese driver has already stated he will do everything possible to support Verstappen, last year’s Grand Prix winner at Lusail. Reflecting on sprint qualifying, Verstappen said: “Not good. From the first lap, just really bad bouncing and very aggressive understeer that would shift into oversteer at high speed. Just not what you want to go faster. We tried to change a few things on the wheel but it never really worked. It made it quite tricky. Clearly it wasn’t working well in qualifying, so that’s something we need to understand.” Verstappen will have to run the sprint with the same setup. However, once the sprint concludes, Red Bull will be allowed to adjust the car, as it will no longer be under parc ferme restrictions. Related Story Source link
In a press conference held today in Doha, the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 Local Organising Committee (LOC) announced Qatar’s preparedness to host the second edition of the prestigious regional competition from 1-18 December. A total of 16 teams will have a chance to lift the coveted trophy. Speaking at the press conference were Jassim Al Jassim, LOC CEO; Roberto Grassi, FIFA Representative; Saeed Al Kuwari, Hayya Director at Qatar Tourism; Colonel Dr. Jabr H. J. Al Naimi, Spokesperson of Ministry of Interior; and Fatma Al Nuaimi, LOC Executive Director of Communications and Media. The tournament has garnered wide attention with 700,699 tickets sold so far. In particular, 210,209 of these tickets were purchased by supporters outside of Qatar, reaffirming the competition’s regional appeal. Supporters of Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia led ticket sales for group stage matches. The tournament has also attracted massive interest from regional media, with 3,861 media personnel having submitted applications for accreditation to cover the competition in Qatar. From these, 2,085 of them are from outside of Qatar. A total of 15 regional and international broadcasters will make use of the host country’s studios in Doha, while many other channels have acquired the rights to broadcast matches. Tournament organisers also announced that the use of Doha Metro will be free of charge for all ticketholders on match days, allowing fans to make use of Qatar’s compact nature. All six venues hosting matches during the tournament are connected seamlessly by Qatar’s modern rail network. The opening match will take place on 1 December at Al Bayt Stadium featuring hosts Qatar and Palestine. Gates will open at 2:30pm, with the tournament opening taking place at 5:30pm. The Final will be held on 18 December at the iconic Lusail Stadium. Other stadiums that will host matches during the tournament are Ahmad Bin Ali, Education City, Khalifa International and Stadium 974. Throughout the competition, fans will also be treated to a variety of entertainment and cultural activities at fan zones located across all six venues. The tournament will provide a platform to celebrate the region’s rich and diverse culture, unity and shared passion for football. Recently, the LOC unveiled the official tournament mascot Juha – a popular character from the history of Arab literature. Earlier this week, tournament organisers announced the release of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 official soundtrack, consisting of two songs, titled ‘Zamani’ and ‘Makani’, both produced by Doha-based Katara Studios. The upbeat soundtrack is an ode to the passion and camaraderie that Arab fans share as they come together, once again, to celebrate the beautiful game. In the same week, the LOC, in collaboration with FIFA, also launched the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 Daily Fantasy Game that allows fans across the region and beyond to step into the role of football managers and compete in a daily fantasy challenge throughout the tournament. The game is available in the Play Zone tab of the FIFA app and can also be accessed on play.fifa.com. FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 tickets are available at: www.roadtoqatar.qa, with prices starting from QAR 25. Supporters can also purchase a Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of their team of choice during the group stage. Throughout the competition, fans will also be treated to a variety of entertainment and cultural activities. Source link
The eleventh edition of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, which will be hosted in Doha from Dec. 1 to 18, is witnessing impactful changes in…
The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, in its eleventh edition to be hosted in Doha from Dec. 1 to 18, represents an ideal preparatory opportunity for…
Oscar Piastri was perfectly placed to cut McLaren teammate Lando Norris’s 24-point Formula One championship lead after qualifying on pole position for the Qatar sprint race at the Lusail International Circuit yesterday. George Russell will start second for Mercedes, while Norris qualified in third position. Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen, the other title contender who is level with Piastri in the standings, will start today’s race in sixth position. Source link
Young Qatar riders delivered outstanding performances to secure first place in the CSICh-A Children Teams category on the second day of the FEI Group VII Finals at Al Shaqab’s Longines Outdoor Arena.The team comprising Abdul Aziz Jassim al-Thani, Mohammed Hamza al-Kuwari, Mohammed Faisal al-Marri and Abdulla Tamim al-Thani impressed throughout the round. Saudi Arabia finished second, while Kuwait secured third place to complete the podium.In the CSJ-A Junior Teams category, the UAE claimed first place, followed by Egypt in second and Saudi Arabia in third. Closing the day, the Young Riders Teams category saw the UAE take top spot, Egypt finish second and Saudi Arabia secure third.Mohammed Jaber al-Khayarin, Equine Education Director at Al Shaqab, said: “The second day reaffirmed the strength of Group VII’s emerging athletes and the importance of hosting these finals in Qatar for the first time. The level of competition continues to rise, and the performances we witness each day reflect the commitment, discipline, and ambition of these young riders. We look forward to a strong final day that will crown the champions of this historic edition.”The Finals conclude today, with rounds across all categories set to determine the 2025 Group VII champions. Source link
FROM LEFT: Mongolia’s Ariunbold Enkhtaivan (silver medallist), Russia’s Ayub Bliev (gold), Georgia’s Giorgi Sardalashvili (bronze ) and Turkiye’s Salih Yildiz (bronze) stand on the podium during…
A computer-generated image of the interior of a new 100,000-seat stadium proposed for Manchester United at Old Trafford. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have submitted a joint bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2035 in what the Home Nations described as the largest single-sport event ever staged in the UK and the first World Cup there since 1966.The bid outlines plans for 22 stadiums across 16 host cities, including 16 venues in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.The four nations are sole bidders after FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in April the UK was the “one valid bid” for the finals. The vote on hosts for the 2031 and ’35 World Cups will be made at the FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30.The tournament will involve 104 matches contested by 48 teams over 39 days, with 48 team base camp training sites, 82 venue-specific training sites and 32 fan-festival sites.The four federations said that with 63 million people living within two hours of a proposed venue, it would be the most accessible World Cup tournament ever. England’s men won the World Cup for the first and so far only time when the country hosted the finals in 1966.Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the bid, calling it a chance to build on the success of England’s women’s team, who are back-to-back European champions, and inspire the next generation.“Our bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup shows the UK’s passion for football,” he said.“The Lionesses’ success has inspired girls across our country, and we’ll build on that momentum by welcoming millions of football fans from around the world to a tournament that will benefit communities and businesses in host cities up and down the UK.”Organisers project 4.5 million ticket sales and a global TV audience of 3.5 billion.“We are proud of the growth that we’ve driven in recent years across the women’s and girls’ game, but there is still so much more growth to come, and this event will play a key role in helping us deliver that,” the four federations said in a statement.“Working together with FIFA, a Women’s World Cup in the UK has the power to turbocharge the women’s and girls’ game both in the UK and globally.” The football federations of the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica announced last month a joint bid to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup, the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams. If successful, it would be the first Women’s World Cup staged across four countries. Brazil are set to host the 2027 global women’s tournament.Manchester United, in collaboration with Trafford Council, hope to be among the 16 host stadiums in England, saying they aim to have their new Old Trafford ground completed in time.“Our ambition is to build a new 100,000 seater stadium fit to host the biggest international football games,” United’s Chief Operating Officer Collette Roche said.“We also want to be a leader in the growth of women’s football, in our own neighbourhood and around the world.”Some of the other proposed stadiums are Everton’s Hill Dickinson ground (Liverpool), St James’ Park (Newcastle), the Racecourse Ground (Wrexham) and London’s Emirates Stadium, Selhurst Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Wembley Stadium and a potential new Chelsea stadium. Source link
Lusail International Circuit (LIC) set the tone for an electrifying weekend as the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix kicked off yesterday. With an action-packed schedule featuring practice sessions, Sprint qualifying, and a host of off-track activities, fans of all ages filled the grandstands throughout the day. The interactive Fan Zone was buzzing with activity as attendees explored food stalls, games, experiences, and merchandise, creating a lively and unforgettable atmosphere. Fans also had the chance to meet drivers and team managers during the Fan Forum, where exclusive merchandise was distributed – offering attendees an once-in-a-lifetime experience. Adding to the race weekend experience, Paddock Club guests enjoyed an exclusive Pit Lane Walk, gaining unparalleled access to team garages and behind-the-scenes action. The excitement continued with a Paddock Club Track Tour, providing a guided lap of the circuit and unique insights into the challenges drivers face on track. Off-track entertainment included a soulful performance by British singer Seal at the Lusail Live Stage, further delighting fans. Today promises even more thrills with the Sprint race, highlighting Qatar as one of only six venues selected by F1 to host this high-octane format in 2025. The 100km sprint race, which requires no mandatory pit stops, is expected to deliver intense wheel-to-wheel action under the lights.Circuit gates open at 1:30pm today. Complimentary Metro passes can be redeemed by the Ticket holders at the Goldclub office at any Doha Metro station or selected Lusail Tram stations. The Doha Metro will operate extended hours from 5am to 1:30am, with shuttle services running from Lusail QNB Station to the circuit. Source link