Karun Chandhok saw how Mark Webber reacted to Oscar Piastri taking Qatar Sprint pole

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Oscar Piastri delivered a timely Sprint pole at the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday. Championship leader Lando Norris starts third, with George Russell splitting the two McLarens.

Max Verstappen, level on points with Piastri, is down in sixth – behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda – after an uncharacteristically scruffy SQ3.

Piastri knows it will be difficult to make significant championship progress in the Sprint, where there’s only one point separating each position. But if confidence has been an issue lately, then this could be an important boost.

The Australian looked quick at the outset in Qatar, setting the pace in FP1. His 1:20.055 was just three-hundredths quicker than Russell in the Mercedes.

Karun Chandhok says Mark Webber let out a ‘massive whoop’ after Oscar Piastri’s Sprint pole

Piastri hasn’t taken pole, in any format, since the Dutch GP just after the summer break. That was also his most recent pole position.

In fact, he’s only been in the top three in one of the last 11 competitive sessions, having lost form in a crucial phase of the season.

In that context, one can understand why manager Mark Webber was thrilled after Friday’s session, even though it’s only a Sprint qualifying session. Webber was watching the session alongside Piastri’s father.

“Your dad and Mark Webber were watching, not far from where we are,” Karun Chandhok told Piastri on Sky after the session. “It was a massive whoop! I can tell you they were very happy with qualifying.”

Andrea Stella says Piastri hasn’t ‘elevated his game’ like Norris or Verstappen, but there was optimism that the last two tracks on the calendar would be better suited to his driving style.

Damon Hill says Oscar Piastri is ‘smiling again’ after Qatar Sprint pole

One journalist has heard that Webber is planning ‘tough talks’ with McLaren over the winter break in an attempt to rebuild Piastri’s confidence in the team.

Piastri’s downbeat demeanour, while understandable based on his results, has given rise to speculation that he might be considering his options in the driver market next year.

But writing on his Instagram story, 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill said Piastri was ‘smiling again’ after doing a ‘good job’ in Sprint qualifying. Positive results can entirely change the atmosphere.

Norris can afford to finish third in every remaining session given his sizeable championship lead. The drivers are pessimistic about overtaking opportunities in the Sprint race, particularly given that the DRS zone on the main straight is relatively short.