F1 starting grid: What is the grid order for the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix?
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri drives past a camera during Qatar Grand Prix qualifying.
The F1 starting grid is in place for the Qatar Grand Prix after a Friday night qualifying session at the Lusail Circuit, with Max Verstappen having taken pole position.
Lando Norris had been quick enough for second place on the night, but two lap time deletions in Q3 saw him unable to clock a legal time in the final part of qualifying, which puts him 10th on the grid provisionally for Sunday’s race.
All eyes will be on the Sprint on Saturday, but a reminder that Friday’s qualifying session has set the grid for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, and any penalties to arise from Friday’s session will take effect on Sunday rather than Saturday, with the Sprint seen as a standalone event.
Several drivers fell foul of the track limits around Lusail as there were some surprise exits early in the session, with both Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez going out in Q2.
Lance Stroll, meanwhile, was furious after climbing out of his car with a Q1 exit next to his name around Lusail, appearing to push his trainer out of the way as he looked to leave the Aston Martin garage.
A few hours ahead of lights out, the FIA confirmed Sergio Perez had been sent to start from the pit lane as Red Bull worked on the spare chassis under parc ferme conditions.
Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, would not take any part in the race after a major fuel leak was discovered on his car and Ferrari did not have enough time to fix it
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F1 starting grid: 2023 Qatar Grand Prix
1 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull
2 George RUSSELL Mercedes
3 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes
4 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin
5 Charles LECLERC Ferrari
6 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren
7 Pierre GASLY Alpine
8 Esteban OCON Alpine
9 Valtteri BOTTAS Alfa Romeo
10 Lando NORRIS McLaren
11 Yuki TSUNODA AlphaTauri
DNS Carlos SAINZ Ferrari
13 Alexander ALBON Williams
14 Nico HULKENBERG Haas
15 Logan SARGEANT Williams
16 Lance STROLL Aston Martin
17 Liam LAWSON AlphaTauri
18 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas
19 ZHOU Guanyu Alfa Romeo
Pit lane Sergio PEREZ Red Bull
Read next: Qatar Grand Prix: Max Verstappen storms to pole as Lando Norris stripped of front row