Championship leader Lando Norris has one lap, one corner and one target circled in red for Saturday’s Sprint at Lusail: nailing rival George Russell into Turn 1.
The McLaren driver, starting third behind the Mercedes driver, believes that the opening seconds will make or break his podium prospects – because once the field snakes through Qatar’s fast-flowing layout, chances to overtake become almost mythical.
Getting ahead of Russell, staying ahead of the chasing pack, and he could wrap up the 2025 crown this weekend. Playing it safe? Not a chance.
“The pace was there. I just made a mistake in the last corner on my first lap and didn't put it together,” Norris admitted, frustrated yet fired up after missing out in SQ3 on a front-row start alongside title rival Oscar Piastri.
Lusail’s sweeping high-speed corners thrill the drivers, but they punish anyone hoping to claw back track position. With barely any heavy braking zones and a layout that makes following another car feel like chasing a ghost, Norris knows exactly where his moment must come.
“I'd be stupid to not try and win. I'll see what I can find overnight and see what we can do for tomorrow,” he said.
“It's impossible to overtake, so I think I'm probably going to finish P3. But if I can at least get George off the line or something, then that's probably the most I can hope for.”
For the Briton, the stakes go far beyond the Sprint trophy. If he outscores Piastri and Max Verstappen by two points over the weekend, he can clinch his maiden world championship with a round to spare.
Russell Agrees: Turn 1 Will Tell The Story
George Russell, sitting between Piastri and Norris on the Sprint grid, echoed the McLaren driver’s assessment: the first corner is where the finishing order may effectively be written.
“I don't want to put a downer on it, but Turn 1 is probably going to be where we end up, really,” Russell said, acknowledging the overtaking drought that awaits after the opening complex.
The Mercedes driver revealed that competitors had already voiced concerns over the lack of passing opportunities – and even asked the FIA to extend the DRS zone to boost the spectacle.
“We briefly spoke about it this morning in the drivers' briefing about why the DRS hasn't been extended, and I hope maybe after the sprint they can adjust it if needed for the race,” Russell added.
“I think it will be challenging to overtake, but obviously we're in a good starting position, so we'll take it.”
Read also:
Piastri on Qatar Sprint pole: ‘Things have clicked from the start’With drivers predicting a DRS train and strategy offering virtually no escape route, Norris knows his shot at Russell – and perhaps his shot at sealing the title early – depends on how well he nails those first hundred metres.
Turn 1 awaits, and the lights can’t go out soon enough.
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