Russell surprised by Qatar Sprint Qualifying pace

George Russell surprisingly secured second place in Sprint Qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, splitting the McLaren duo of pole-sitter Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The Mercedes driver admitted his recent one-lap performances haven't been strong, making this result particularly pleasing on the "joy to drive" Lusail circuit. While Mercedes seeks a crucial strong result to solidify their second position in the Constructors' Championship, Russell anticipates a challenging Sprint, expecting limited overtaking opportunities. Meanwhile, teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli qualified P7 after a "messy" session, losing confidence following an SQ2 mistake and failing to maximize the car's potential.