Qualifying for the penultimate Grand Prix of the 2024 F1 season is in the books and Max Verstappen is up front

Max Verstappen suffered a disastrous start during the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, dropping three places on the opening lap. The Dutchman, who has already been confirmed as 2024's drivers' champion, dropped to ninth following an already poor sprint qualifying session on Friday.

Max Verstappen said “a miracle happened” after he guided his Red Bull car to pole in Qatar despite every sign suggesting he would not be in the running. A P8 finish in the sprint would not have filled Verstappen with much hope heading into qualifying but he praised the work done by the Red Bull team to give him a car capable of securing pole.

Lando Norris joked that Max Verstappen should go into comedy after the Red Bull driver claimed he would have won this year’s F1 world title sooner if he was driving in a McLaren. Verstappen sealed his fourth successive world championship in Las Vegas last weekend, with Norris now unable to catch him with two rounds remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Lando Norris says Max Verstappen "should start doing comedy" after the Dutchman suggested he could have won the world title in Norris' McLaren.