Qatar Grand Prix: Interesting statistics

      A few interesting statistical takeaways from the Qatar Grand Prix…

      Qualifying

      By winning qualifying in Qatar, Oscar Piastri claimed his sixth pole of the season and his first in three months. It was McLaren’s 177th pole in history — by that measure the team trails only Ferrari (254 poles).

      Lando Norris qualified second, for the fifth consecutive time and the 29th time in his career starting from the front row. McLaren drivers occupied the entire front row of the grid for the 71st time in the team’s history.

      Max Verstappen qualified third for the fourth time this season.

      For the fourth time in the last five Grands Prix, George Russell qualified fourth, and for the twentieth time this year he outqualified his teammate.

      By qualifying fifth, Kimi Antonelli extended his team’s successful run, which has never started outside the top five in Qatar.

      Pierre Gasly reached the final qualifying session for the third consecutive time and the tenth time this season.

      Charles Leclerc’s tenth place and Lewis Hamilton’s 18th — this is Ferrari’s worst result in Qatar.

      For the fourth time in the last six Grands Prix, Nico Hülkenberg qualified 11th.

      Race

      By winning the Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen took his seventh victory of the season, his 50th in the car carrying #1, and the 70th of his career. It was the Dutchman’s third consecutive win at the Losail circuit.

      Verstappen is the first driver to win the Qatar Grand Prix without leading on the opening lap.

      The three title contenders — Norris, Verstappen and Piastri — each have seven wins this season. For the first time since 2010, three drivers will contest the title in Abu Dhabi.

      Oscar Piastri finished second, ending an unsuccessful run of six races without a podium.

      Carlos Sainz’s third place guaranteed Williams fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship for the season — the team’s best result since 2017.

      Lando Norris finished fourth, retaining the lead in the drivers’ standings. With one round remaining he has 408 points, Verstappen has 396 (-12), and Piastri has 392 (-16).

      Norris and Piastri contested their 70th Grand Prix as McLaren teammates. In that time they have taken 20 wins, reached the podium 62 times, and recorded 22 fastest laps.

      Kimi Antonelli, at the wheel of the Mercedes, finished fifth and for the fourth consecutive time ended up in the top six.

      By finishing sixth, George Russell, for the third time in the last four Grands Prix, was beaten by his teammate in the race.

      Fernando Alonso finished seventh and surpassed the 23,000-lap mark in Formula 1 races. He now has 23,026 laps and is the outright leader in history by this measure.