McLaren aims for first constructors' title as Qatar Grand Prix approaches

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix but received a one-place grid penalty, dropping him to second. George Russell will start from pole, while McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri aim to outscore Ferrari to clinch the constructors' championship. McLaren needs to outscore Ferrari by 15 points to secure its first title since 1998. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc acknowledged the need for a strong performance to keep their championship hopes alive, as they qualified behind McLaren and the top two teams. The race conditions in Qatar are expected to be cooler than last year, which may lead to a more typical race. Mercedes' George Russell is optimistic after qualifying second, while teammate Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth, struggling with pace.