British Formula One driver George Russell finished P4 in Qatar after starting from pole.  He previously finished P4 in 2023’s Qatar Grand Prix.

Single practice session

George and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team began the weekend with the only Free Practice session, getting up to speed and collecting data.

After completing runs on the Medium tyre for the majority of the session, George switched to the Soft compound in the final ten minutes. He finished FP1 in P8.

WATCH: 2024 QATAR FP1 HIGHLIGHTS

Front row secured

George initially held back from going out on track at the start of SQ2 and emerged with eight minutes remaining in the session. His first representative lap put him P2. Towards the end of the first segment, he set an identical time to Lando Norris, who sat in P1. He safely progressed to SQ2 in P3.

In SQ2, George set purple sectors and moved himself into P2, securing a spot in SQ3.

After switching to the Soft compound tyre for SQ3, George’s first lap saw him sit in P5. He continued to improve as the segment progressed. His final flying lap of 1:22.021 saw him claim P2.

WATCH: 2024 QATAR SPRINT QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS

Big battles in the Sprint

Starting from the front row on Medium tyres, George lost a place to Oscar Piastri on the opening lap.

George went for a move into Turn 1 on Lap 3 but was unable to get close enough to overtake.

Unfortunately, George was unable to make the overtake on the McLaren and finished the Sprint in P3, picking up six points.

WATCH: 2024 QATAR SPRINT HIGHLIGHTS

Promoted to pole

In Q1, George wasn’t wasting any time; he was waiting at the end of the pit lane before the session had begun.

He completed his first flying lap on the Soft tyre and immediately went to the top of the timings. After changing to a fresh set of the Softs, George continued to set the fastest lap times and progressed to Q2 in P1.

George went straight out again in Q2 and immediately set the benchmark time. He continued most of the segment in P1 but ultimately finished Q2 in P4.

With another fresh set of Soft tyres, George initially went fastest in Q3. He pitted after a cool down lap and went back out on track in the final four minutes of the segment.

It was a close fight for pole, but George just missed out with a time of 1:20.575 and qualified P2 for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix.

Post-session, a penalty was applied to Max Verstappen's qualifying. This resulted in George being promoted to pole position for Sunday’s race.

WATCH: 2024 QATAR QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS

A tough Grand Prix

George started the Qatar Grand Prix from pole on the Medium tyre.

He had a good start as the lights went out but was overtaken into the first turn and dropped to P3. The safety car was called at the end of the opening lap which halted any progress.

George continued in P3. By Lap 23, he was struggling on his tyres. He pitted on the same lap and after a slow stop he emerged on the Hard tyre in P11.

On Lap 34 he was able to make a move past Fernando Alonso for P10 before the Safety Car was deployed for the second time due to debris on the track.

He pitted for a second time under the Safety Car for another set of Hard tyres and he was in P7.

The restart came on Lap 40. George was able to make up two positions before the Virtual Safety Car was called and then a full Safety Car before the lap had ended.

George made up a further position to P4 on Lap 46 as Lando Norris pitted. George continued running in P4 until the chequered flag, taking home 12 points.

The 2024 F1 season will resume on 6-8 December for the final race, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

WATCH: 2024 QATAR GRAND PRIX HIGHLIGHTS

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One™ Team driver:

“It was a very strange race because our pace has been so strong all weekend, but it just didn’t seem to be there today. Overall, my race wasn’t great, I had a bad start then poor pace and finally a penalty at the end of the race. We ultimately didn’t have the pace on the hard tyre that we thought we would and were not quick enough compared to those around us. Max and Lando managed to pass by at the start and I didn’t have the speed to catch them again. Even after the pit stop I struggled to try and make it back through to regain my position.

"The car was great all day Friday and yesterday so we need to understand where that pace went for us today. Both Lewis and I made bad starts and we have some idea why, but we need to fully understand how we lost the performance that we showed in the Sprint. I think ultimately you can see how you only need to gain two tenths or lose two tenths and you go from being a front runner to being down in P6 or P7 so I hope we can have the car from yesterday and Vegas next week in Abu Dhabi. It would be great if we can hopefully have a better weekend together as a Team.”