HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action as Verstappen takes Qatar Grand Prix pole while Perez and Sainz make early exits

Max Verstappen will start the Qatar Grand Prix in pole position after securing top spot in qualifying. The Red Bull racer could already be crowned world champion by the time he starts Sunday’s race, with his first opportunity to seal the deal coming in the Sprint tomorrow.

The Dutch driver’s Friday has gone perfectly, after he also topped FP1, and he will hope to keep that run of form going as he goes in search of his third title.

READ MORE: Verstappen dominates to take pole position ahead of Mercedes as he closes in on third world title in Qatar

Joining Verstappen on the front row of the grid is Mercedes’ George Russell, after McLaren’s Lando Norris had two lap times deleted – the second of which had provisionally put him P2.

Oscar Piastri was subsequently elevated to third thanks to his team mate’s time deletion, but he also then had his lap time removed – demoting him to sixth. Lewis Hamilton was the man to eventually take third on the grid.

Elsewhere there were shocks for Verstappen’s Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez who was knocked out in Q2, again falling victim to a deleted lap time – leaving him in P13 – while Singapore victor Carlos Sainz also made an early exit and will start P12.

Click on the video above to watch the highlights from the Qatar Grand Prix qualifying.