Oscar Piastri set the pace for McLaren in the lone practice session for the Qatar Grand Prix on Friday, edging out teammate and Formula One title contender Lando Norris at the top of the timesheets.

The Australian clocked a leading lap of 1:20.924 around the Lusail circuit, with championship leader Norris just 0.058 seconds slower after running wide at the final corner in the closing stages.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso secured third place, followed by Williams driver Carlos Sainz in fourth and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar in an impressive fifth.

Red Bull’s four-time champion Max Verstappen, also still in the title fight and a two-time Qatar GP winner, ended the session sixth. The Dutchman reported issues with the car, describing it as “jumping” and noting that the steering felt “weird.”

Norris enters the weekend with a 24-point lead over both Piastri and Verstappen with just two rounds remaining. The Briton could wrap up his first world championship on Sunday depending on how the results fall.

With Qatar hosting a sprint weekend, Friday’s running served as the only practice session before qualifying for Saturday’s 100km, 25-lap sprint race.

Williams’ Alex Albon finished seventh, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in eighth, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in ninth, and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli rounding out the top 10.

Leclerc, who struggled with his car’s handling, expressed his frustration over team radio: “I cannot feel a thing. Really frustrating — I don’t even know where the balance is with this power steering.” His teammate Lewis Hamilton ended the session 12th.