The battle for Formula 1’s top team prize heats up today in Qatar, where George Russell starts from pole position for the second straight weekend after Max Verstappen‘s penalty knocked him down a spot.
The temperature’s sitting at a comfortable 20°C (68°F) as drivers prepare for what could be a game-changing race.
While Verstappen already locked up his third straight drivers’ championship last week, there’s still plenty at stake.
The real drama today is in the team standings. Just 6 points separate Haas, Alpine, and RB in their fierce fight for sixth place – that’s millions in prize money on the line.
Higher up the grid, McLaren’s trying to chase down Ferrari for second place, though they’ll need to make up a pretty big 30-point gap.
Teams are planning for a one-stop strategy around Qatar’s challenging circuit. But those gravel traps and high-speed corners? They have a way of throwing those plans right out the window.
The wind’s expected to pick up to 15 MPH during the race, which could make those tricky corners even trickier.
It’s shaping up to be an intense afternoon of racing, even without a championship on the line.
