Max Verstappen took pole position for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix as the indomitable Dutchman closes in on his third world title.
Verstappen will be crowned champion of the world if he finishes at least sixth in Saturday’s 19-lap race at the Lusail International Circuit.
And the Red Bull driver started his quest to become just the 11th driver in history to win the title on more than two occasions in typically irresistible fashion by clocking the fastest time in qualifying.
In terms of the championship mathematics, Verstappen’s pole lap for Sunday’s main event will be redundant if he secures three points in Saturday’s sprint – the starting order for which will be determined by a second qualifying session here on Saturday afternoon – or Sergio Perez fails finish inside the top three. The probability of both are high.
As Verstappen raced to top spot, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton securing second and third on the grid for Mercedes, Perez failed to make it out of Q2.
His best lap, which would have been fast enough to see him sneak through to Q3, was deleted for exceeding track limits at turn five. Perez, in equal machinery to the driver dominating the sport, will start 13th on Sunday.
Perez threatened to fight Verstappen for the championship by winning two of the opening four rounds of the season, but the Mexican’s challenge has faded. He has not won since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on April 30, with Verstappen winning 11 of the next dozen races.
Indeed, only a Singapore blip for Red Bull has thwarted this most one-sided of seasons for the Dutchman.
He bounced back in impressive fashion to win in Japan last time out and his form under the Lusail lights, 18 miles north of Doha, indicates he will wrap up his third championship in as many years in style.
Qualifying did not pass without incident for the 26-year-old following a duel with the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, who, like Perez, was a surprise casualty in Q2.
“What is he doing, man?” Verstappen yelled over the radio. “He is defending. You see that? I almost crashed into him.” The stewards are investigating the Spaniard for erratic driving.
Verstappen then aborted his final lap after making a rare mistake, but his first effort was good enough for first place, and he is primed to celebrate his probable title triumph on Saturday by claiming his 14th win from the 17 rounds so far 24 hours later.
Behind Verstappen, Lando Norris looked to have taken second place, but his lap was scrubbed after he put all four wheels of his McLaren over the white line, relegating him to 10th.
Russell was bumped up to second, one place ahead of Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. However, the Australian’s lap was also chalked off, dropping him to sixth and promoting Hamilton to third.
Mercedes will take some comfort from being best of the rest, but Russell still finished four tenths off Verstappen, with Hamilton half-a-second down.
Leigh Wood recognises how dangerous Josh Warrington is as the underdog ahead of their all-British world featherweight title showdown in Sheffield on Saturday.
Warrington’s signature wins against Lee Selby and Carl Frampton five years ago upset the odds and the Leeds fighter heads into this weekend with his opponent favoured by bookmakers.
Wood believes how he fares in the first defence of his second reign as WBA champion could determine how his own career pans out.
Victory over Warrington, who is targeting a bout in Las Vegas if he prevails, would move Wood a step closer to a long-held ambition of fighting at his beloved City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest.
“This is his last chance to get back into title contention,” Wood told the PA news agency.
“He wants his American dream – he knows he’s got to win this fight and that’s what makes him so dangerous.
“I’ve been up for this for a number of years, it’s one that’s going to cement my name, not just as the best featherweight in Britain but one of the best featherweights in the world.
“It’s taken a long time to get here. It’s not been an overnight thing, I’ve had to work my a*** off. It’s been a long hard journey and this is my graduation, you could say.”
The pair scaled just under the 126lb limit at Friday’s weigh-in before engaging in a good-natured staredown, with Warrington a ball of energy as he whipped up the small crowd.
Both fighters wore the scarves of their favourite football team. Warrington pulled up a Leeds scarf over his mouth while Wood had the red and white of Nottingham Forest over his shoulders.
A brief but intense stare-off gave way to smiles as the pair shook hands before gesturing to the crowd, with Warrington screaming ‘and the new’ as Wood cut a more relaxed figure.
For Wood, who could step up to super-featherweight after this bout due to the demands of getting down to featherweight, facing Warrington has been a long time in the making.
Five years ago, Wood (27-3, 16KOs) by his own admission was struggling to make a name for himself and after being egged on by a friend, he directed a tweet at Warrington more in hope than expectation.
“I was in no man’s land, nobody outside my own village knew who I was,” Wood added. “I wasn’t getting any fights, I was 30 years old, I was at rock bottom and needed to do something quick.
“I was sat in a restaurant with my friend and he just asked why didn’t I call someone out? It wasn’t really my thing but Josh Warrington was the best in the division at the time.
“I went on Twitter and did this video and it got about three likes or something. No-one even saw it. Five years later, we’ve come full circle.”
Warrington (31-2-1, 8KOs) jumps straight back into world title contention after dropping his IBF crown in December last year following a narrow points loss to Luis Alberto Lopez.
“We are ready for absolutely anything,” he told PA. “We’ve gone over and over all the different things that he can do. We have looked at all the different scenarios that we can bring and are ready for each and every one of them.”
Mark Wood has warned England not to rely on their injured “Messiah” Ben Stokes to ride to the rescue after a punishing start to their World Cup defence.
The 2019 champions were roundly thrashed by New Zealand in the tournament opener in Ahmedabad, going down by nine wickets as Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra shared an unbroken stand of 273.
Stokes, the hero of the Lord’s final four years ago and newly back in the ODI fold after reversing his retirement, missed out with a left hip problem and cut a frustrated figure as he watched on from the dugout.
Details of the Test captain’s fitness are sparse but he has struggled with a longstanding left knee problem in recent years and has already been ruled out as a bowling option in the World Cup to ease the load on his body.
England would love to welcome him back for Tuesday’s clash against Bangladesh in the Himalayan city of Dharamasala, but there is no guarantee he will be cleared for action.
Whether or not he makes it, Wood wants the rest of the squad to take their own responsibility for turning things around.
“It’s not all just about ‘the Messiah’ Stokesy coming back and him doing everything. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him,” said his Durham team-mate.
“He’s not Superman. He’s been through tough situations. Other people have to stand up as well. He’s obviously one of our best players, if not our best player, but all the lads have to stand up as well.”
Wood offered an uncertain update on Stokes’ current status, but England have already made it clear they will not gamble so early in their six-week stay.
“I don’t know (how he is), but he’s got strapping round his leg, which is helping,” said Wood.
“He’ll have to get in the nets and see if the strapping does its job and allows him to move how he wants. It’s not just about batting, it’s in the field too.
“Obviously we want Stokesy back – he’s a huge player. We’ll just have to assess with the medical team. It’s not up to me.”
Former captain Eoin Morgan, the man who masterminded England’s white-ball revolution and lifted the World Cup at Lord’s four years ago, emphasised the influential role Stokes still has to play – on and off the field.
“Ben Stokes’ return will be key. The difference he makes is invaluable and there is no measure on the impact he has in a changing room,” Morgan said.
“He believes he can achieve anything from any sort of circumstances and has backed that up in match-winning performances. He breeds confidence and belief. After a defeat like that, he will no doubt be speaking in that changing room.
“His words hold a lot of weight because they are backed up by performance. He will have had a great view of the whole game and hopefully he’ll be back on the field as soon as possible.”
Wood, meanwhile, has plenty to consider after he was put to the sword by Conway and Ravindra. Playing his first ODI since March he sent down five wicketless overs for 55 and was thrashed for seven fours and two pulled sixes.
He missed the recent home series against New Zealand due to a sore heel but he insisted the only pain he felt after Thursday’s game was psychological.
“I’m a bit battered mentally, from watching the ball going over my head a lot of times, but physically I feel OK,” he said.
“It’s fine to let it hurt but then we’ll refocus on the next game. We’ll move on pretty quickly. We want to keep this trophy, to prove people wrong. There’ll be question marks now but, as a group, we believe in each other.”
Inter Milan are hoping to have Davide Frattesi available for Saturday’s clash with Bologna.
The Italy international suffered a muscle injury in the defeat at Sassuolo 10 days ago and missed the Serie A clash with Salernitana and the Champions League win over Benfica in midweek.
He trained on Friday and boss Simone Inzaghi will decide whether to risk him for Bologna’s visit to the San Siro.
Marko Arnautovic did not train with the group and will miss out.
Inter sit top of Serie A on goal difference ahead of their rivals AC Milan after a strong start to the season.
Defender Carlos Augusto is loving life at the San Siro following his loan move from Monza.
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The 24-year-old Brazilian has featured nine times for his new team and already knows what is expected.
“It’s going very well,” he said in an interview with DAZN, reported by La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“The group and the staff have helped me a lot to get used to the new surroundings as best as possible and I’m very happy to help my team-mates. We are a family where everyone helps each other and for this reason, we are doing well.
“Inter aims to always win in all competitions, we want the title, but also the Italian Cup and to get as high as possible in the Champions League, this is what this team is, we want to win everything, always.”
Bologna have only lost once this season – a 2-0 reverse to AC Milan – so they will present a difficult challenge to Inter.
However, they will be without injured trio Stefan Posch, Jhon Lukumi, and Adama Soumaoro.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson admits his side are in the thick of a “serious injury crisis” with midfielder Eberechi Eze becoming the latest player set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Eze’s hamstring issue ruled him out of selection for Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad after he featured last month, with the 25-year-old joining an ever-growing list of Palace players unavailable for Saturday’s home encounter with Nottingham Forest.
Despite the latest blow, Hodgson made clear he had no intention of courting pity, pointing to the bigger picture as he sought to assure concerned supporters.
Hodgson said: “There is no sympathy in the world of football for injuries and there is no point seeking sympathy. It happens to all teams.
“We happen to be in the middle of quite a serious injury crisis at the moment, but we have to learn to deal with it and accept the situation and look forward to the time when our squad is bigger again when these players return.
“OK, it’s not going to be in the next week or two, but the season doesn’t end until May so we have to keep that in mind as well.”
Palace sit ninth in the Premier League table after seven matches and enter Saturday’s contest bolstered by their 1-0 victory over Manchester United last time out, with defender Joachim Andersen providing the decisive strike.
Hodgson, aware of his dwindling resources, said: “We are going to be dependent now, really, on the players who have come in to take their places in doing a good job, which to be fair they have been doing.
“I’m very satisfied with the way the team has been playing, and we’re a squad, so there is no point complaining about injuries. They do happen and you must never feel sorry for yourself.
“One or two of the players who have come in, in the last two or three weeks, who have not necessarily played from the start, have come in and done exceptionally well. That is the way we have got to look at it.”
While Hodgson refused to set a timeframe for Eze’s return, he did concede that the injury was “serious” and “the severity of the injury might suggest it’s as long as that.”
Michael Olise, among Hodgson’s other key attackers, has not played this season as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury of his own, while summer signing Jefferson Lerma – also out with same problem – remains ruled out.
Odsonne Edouard, yet another member of Palace’s hamstring woe-club, has progressed and could start against Forest at Selhurst Park, while Brazilian Matheus Franca is still working his way back to match fitness, but is “no longer injured”.
Dean Henderson, James Tomkins and Naouirou Ahamada all remain unavailable.
Massimiliano Allegri says victory is the only option for Juventus in their Turin derby with Torino on Saturday.
Juve host their city rivals in Serie A hoping to hang on to the coat-tails of the two Milan clubs at the top of the table.
They are also looking to bounce back from a disappointing 0-0 draw with Atalanta last week and Allegri says it is important to get bragging rights in a “special” encounter.
“We are not satisfied with a result other than victory,” he said in a press conference reported on the club’s website.
“It will be a derby and these are always special matches. In managing the ball and passing, we will undoubtedly have to play a better match than the one in Bergamo, aware of the value of the team we will face.
“We face a Torino that is difficult to play against, an aggressive team led by Ivan Juric who is an excellent coach. For him, the results he achieved and the growth of his players speak for themselves.
Midfielder Paul Pogba remains suspended amid reports he has tested positive for testosterone in his B sample.
Juventus will also be without Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa but Moise Kean and Kenan Yildiz will be involved.
“Moise Kean is doing well and will play.” Allegri added.
“It’s sad not to have Chiesa and Vlahovic because they are doing very well, but these things are part of the game. Kenan Yildiz is ready to play like everyone else who is available.
“On Saturday I will see, the derby is important and above all for us it could serve as another step forward in the standings. We are calm.
“In terms of goalscorers we have Kean, Arek Milik and Yildiz, in midfield we have Adrien Rabiot, who is a goalscorer, Nicolo Fagioli and Fabio Miretti who will start to score goals soon, and then several defenders who are always dangerous on dead-ball situations.”
Turin is black and white if recent results are anything to go by, with Juventus unbeaten in their last 17 meetings with Torino going back to 2015.
Their head coach Ivan Juric has seen his team push Juve close in recent years, without being able to get over the line.
And he hopes that changes on Saturday.
“An aggressive Juve awaits us, we hope to repeat what we have done in the past in terms of performances but with a different result,” he said on his club’s official website.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has signed a new long-term contract at the club.
The forward, recalled to the England squad this week, is believed to have penned a five-year deal and has scored 50 goals for Villa since joining from Brentford in 2020.
He netted 15 times last season to help Villa return to Europe and had been in talks over a new deal for around six months.
Boss Unai Emery said: “He is always very demanding, to learn and improve. He is doing that here. I have been working with him more or less for one year and today is the same as the first day, our method in the training ground.”
Watkins has scored seven times this season, including two hat-tricks, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wolves.
Middle Earth bounced back from his St Leger disappointment to win the Troy Asset Management Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot.
Following victory in the lucrative Melrose Handicap at York in August, the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was supplemented for last month’s Doncaster Classic at a cost of £50,000, but finished a well beaten seventh on softer ground.
Back on a sounder surface in Berkshire, Middle Earth was a 9-4 chance for what looked a warm renewal of this Listed contest and ultimately got the job done in good style.
William Buick set out to make every yard of the running aboard St Leger sixth Chesspiece, with Oisin Murphy aboard Middle Earth and Jim Crowley on 6-4 favourite Naqeeb – a half-brother to the top-class pair of Baaeed and Hukum – content to bide their time for much of the one-mile-six-furlong journey.
With Naqeeb unable to pick up, it was Middle Earth who was produced to challenge Chesspiece – and while no quarter was given by either horse or jockey, it was Murphy’s mount who found most when it mattered to prevail by a length. Naqeeb was a further five and a half lengths behind in third.
Murphy, completing a double on the card having earlier steered Andrew Balding’s Hampden Park to success in the colours of Sir Alex Ferguson, told Sky Sports Racing: “Middle Earth found the ground a little bit soft at Doncaster and when I knew I couldn’t run well I looked after him.
“Fortunately he trained well between then and now, John was very happy and Thady felt like his work was good, so he was allowed to take his chance and I’m delighted. It’s a nice way to finish his season and Sheikh Fahad (owner) will be over the moon.
“We’ll look forward to next year. He’s a beautiful horse, easy to ride and he seems to stay well.”
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City was important for confidence but admitted the Gunners will need to be “at our best in every department for 100 minutes” if they are to repeat that success in the Premier League this weekend.
Arsenal beat Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning side on penalties in August after Leandro Trossard’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Cole Palmer’s opener at Wembley.
However, that result between the teams has been the exception in recent years. City had beaten Arsenal in eight successive matches heading into the Community Shield, while Guardiola’s men are currently on a 12-match winning streak against the Gunners in the Premier League.
In fact, Arsenal have to go back to 2015 for the last time they claimed victory over City in the league, and Arteta knows what level of performance his side must produce on Sunday if they are to end that winless run.
“It was an important one for us (winning in Community Shield),” Arteta said.
“Having success against City is something you have to value, the way we played as well and it gave us confidence and a lift that we can beat them.
“One thing for certain is that we know we will have to be at our best in every department for 100 minutes and then we will have a chance.”
An Arsenal victory this weekend would see them move two points clear of current leaders City, but Arteta dismissed any suggestion it would be a season-defining result.
“It will be a big boost energy and confidence-wise but apart from that and the three points, nothing else,” he said.
Arteta highlighted Guardiola’s strengths as a manager and noted his fellow Spaniard’s decision to play Bernardo Silva at left-back in previous meetings was unexpected.
And the Gunners boss, who was Guardiola’s assistant at City between 2016 and 2019, credited his compatriot’s willingness to change tactics in games.
“Every year we have new tools, new players and different things,” Arteta said.
“We know each other, we expect things from each other but it is down to the players.
“I didn’t expect him to play Bernardo at left-back.
“Yes (expect Pep do make big changes in games) and he does that in big games.
“He’s done it this season as well. Against different opponents he does different things and that’s a big quality of them (City) because they can change.
“They can do this during the game, at half-time and that’s a strength, they can dominate.”
Although City have dominated this fixture in recent years, Arteta took encouragement from his side’s performance in the Emirates clash between the two on New Year’s Day 2022.
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead but City levelled through Riyad Mahrez’s penalty and, with the Gunners down to 10 men following Gabriel’s red card, snatched a stoppage-time winner through Rodri.
Arteta, who missed the fixture following a positive Covid test, believes that match was a big step forward for Arsenal and that they learnt some valuable lessons.
He said: “I could feel it from home and it was a huge step. It was a big one, with the way we played but we ended up losing the game and took some big lessons from it as well, but a lot of positives.”
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Bukayo Saka is in contention to face Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Saka sustained a muscle injury and was substituted during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Lens in Group B of the Champions League on Tuesday.
The winger, who has scored four Premier League goals in seven games this season, could feature in Sunday’s clash at the Emirates and is part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for a friendly with Australia and a Euro 2024 qualifier with Italy.
“He is in contention, we’ll see how he progresses from here to Sunday,” Arteta said.
“Obviously he had to leave the pitch (against Lens), that’s never good news, but let’s see how he recovers.
“I have spoken to Gareth on several occasions. I have to do my job and give him the news.
“He needs to make the best decision for the national team. I’m not going to get involved.”
The Spaniard believes Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City was important for confidence but admitted the Gunners will need to be “at our best in every department for 100 minutes” if they are to repeat that success this weekend.
Arsenal beat Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning side on penalties in August after Leandro Trossard’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Cole Palmer’s opener at Wembley.
However, that result between the teams has been the exception in recent years. City had beaten Arsenal in eight successive matches heading into the Community Shield, while Guardiola’s men are currently on a 12-match winning streak against the Gunners in the Premier League.
In fact, Arsenal have to go back to 2015 for the last time they claimed victory over City in the league, and Arteta knows what level of performance his side must produce on Sunday if they are to end that winless run.
“It was an important one for us (winning in Community Shield),” Arteta said.
“Having success against City is something you have to value, the way we did it as well and it gave us confidence and a lift that we can beat them.
“One thing for certain is that we know we will have to be at our best in every department for 100 minutes and then we will have a chance.”
An Arsenal victory this weekend would see them move two points clear of current leaders City, but Arteta dismissed any suggestion it would be a season-defining result.
“It will be a big boost energy- and confidence-wise but apart from that and the three points, nothing else,” he said.
Arteta highlighted Guardiola’s strengths as a manager and noted his fellow Spaniard’s decision to play Bernardo Silva at left-back in previous meetings was unexpected.
And the Gunners boss, who was Guardiola’s assistant at City between 2016 and 2019, credited his compatriot’s willingness to change tactics in games.
“Every year we have new tools, new players and different things,” Arteta said.
“We know each other, we expect things from each other but it is down to the players.
“I didn’t expect him to play Bernardo at left-back. Yes (expect Pep to make big changes) and he does that in big games.
“He’s done it this season as well. Against different opponents he does different things and that’s a big quality of them (City) because they can change.
“They can do this during the game, at half-time and that’s a strength, they can dominate.”
Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie believes they have the squad and mentality to shake off their European exertions and frustration and deal with the visit of St Johnstone on Sunday.
The Dons were looking to follow up a hat-trick of domestic wins when they hosted HJK Helsinki in the Europa Conference League on Thursday but fell behind against the run of play and had to settle for a 1-1 draw after Bojan Miovski levelled.
Shinnie said: “We were a bit deflated. It felt like we played well so the frustration and disappointment is not having won the game.
“We gave away a cheap goal again and I didn’t think we started well after half-time.
“We wanted to come out fast again and set the tempo but we kind of did the opposite and we let them have a bit of control and they took confidence from that.
“We gave away one of the few chances they had on the night and they took it.
“The overriding emotion was frustration that we haven’t won a game we were pretty dominant in over the 90 minutes.
“We had a couple of good chances to win it, I had one on the edge of the area, Duk had a one-on-one, and you need to take those chances to win these ties.
“It’s frustrating but we are unbeaten in four now and we move on to Sunday. If we get a win then it’s been a good period to go into the international break.”
St Johnstone are looking for their first victory in 10 matches.
Shinnie said: “With us having a European game they will fancy it after us putting in so much effort, but we are kind of used to that now and have the squad to control that.
“If we can play to our capacity, we should win the game.”
Inspiral and Mqse De Sevigne lock horns in an intriguing Anglo-French clash for the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.
John and Thady Gosden’s Inspiral has won seven of her 11 starts for Cheveley Park Stud, a record which includes four victories at Group One level in the hands of Frankie Dettori – who heads into the weekend one short of 500 career winners at Headquarters.
The four-year-old has been kept fresh since successfully defending her crown in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August and connections are looking forward to her return on what is set to be the penultimate Saturday of Dettori’s riding career in Britain.
“She’s in good form and the ground will suit. Softer ground can dampen her finish, but I think the ground on Saturday will be perfect,” said Cheveley Park’s managing director Chris Richardson.
“It’s very competitive and the French filly, Mqse De Sevigne, is to be respected, as are all the field.
“I think the French filly is the one we’ve got to be worried about, but if you’re not in you can’t win, so let’s hope Frankie can work some more magic.”
Plans beyond this weekend for Inspiral remain uncertain, although a trip to the Breeders’ Cup next month is not being ruled out.
Richardson added: “She’s obviously lightly raced, so we can see after Saturday whether Mrs Thompson (owner) will consider the Breeders’ Cup option as her swansong, or indeed whether she might stay in training next year, which hasn’t been decided yet.”
Mqse De Sevigne is on a Group One hat-trick for French maestro Andre Fabre after winning the Prix Rothschild over a mile and the Prix Jean Romanet over a mile and a quarter.
She is likely to encounter quicker ground than she has so far this season over the Rowley Mile, but Fabre – who won the 2015 Sun Chariot with Esoterique – is not too worried.
He said: “She is in good shape and I hope she should run well.
“I don’t think the ground is too much of a concern, maybe over this distance it might be a bit sharp for her but she has done well over this distance before.
“She will go for the Breeders’ Cup (Filly And Mare Turf) after this.”
The Gosden team have an interesting second string to their bow in the form of Coppice, who is sent back into battle just eight days after winning the Listed Rosemary Stakes over the course and distance.
Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: “She’s an intended runner, she came out of last weekend in good shape and the ground looks like it’s going to be good to firm.
“It’s a huge jump up, but we’re planning on going to America with her as a four-year-old and we thought we’d give her one little bite at a Group One here before she went.”
The Richard Hannon-trained Heredia also faces a step up in class after winning the Listed Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock and the Group Three Atalanta Stakes at Sandown on her two most recent starts.
“Richard Hannon has been really pleased with her since Sandown, she has bounced out of that race,” said Richard Brown, racing manager for owners St Albans Bloodstock.
“We took our time and said we would only do it if you were completely happy and Richard says she has never been better, so we’re happy to take a chance.”
Meditate (Aidan O’Brien), Random Harvest (Ed Walker), Goldana (Joseph O’Brien) and Roman Mist (Archie Watson) complete the field.
Max Verstappen finished fastest in practice in Qatar as he closes in on a hat-trick of world championships.
The Dutchman needs to finish only sixth in Saturday’s sprint race to clinch the title and he made light work of Friday’s sole practice at the Lusail International Circuit.
Verstappen finished three tenths clear of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, with Charles Leclerc third in the other scarlet car.
Fernando Alonso took fourth spot for Aston Martin, one place ahead of Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished only eighth and 13th for Mercedes.
Verstappen has dominated this season – winning 13 of the 16 races staged – and he will claim his third straight title if he scores three points in the 19-lap sprint race.
First, Verstappen must qualify for Sunday’s main event and, on the evidence of the early running, he appears favourite to take pole position.
The Dutch driver soared to the top of the time sheets of the one-hour running in the final minutes with a healthy third-of-a-second advantage to the rest of the field.
Russell was almost a second back in the lead Mercedes, with Hamilton 1.2 sec behind Verstappen.
Qualifying takes place at 8pm local time (6pm BST).
AC Milan head for promoted Genoa on Saturday desperate to make up for drawing another Champions League blank in midweek.
The Rossoneri make the trip to the Luigi Ferraris Stadium having won their last three Serie A fixtures against Verona, Cagliari and Lazio to remain level on points with leaders and derby rivals Inter at the top of the table.
However, they do so still reflecting on the disappointment of Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw at Borussia Dortmund in their second Group F fixture, with the first against Newcastle at San Siro having similarly ended in stalemate.
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Manager Stefano Pioli said after the Dortmund game: “Many things we do are positive, but we have not been concrete and ruthless. I want to start again from the many positive things we are doing.”
Pioli and his players were unable to travel back to Italy from Germany on Thursday and so have effectively had just one day to prepare for the clash with Genoa.
They will still be without midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who suffered an adductor muscle injury during the 2-0 victory over Lazio.
Ismael Bennacer and Rade Krunic are also out and the forthcoming international break could hardly be better timed for Pioli’s walking wounded, with Juventus, Paris St Germain and Napoli waiting in the wings in back-to-back games.
Opposite number Alberto Gilardino will hope his side can take advantage of any fatigue to build upon a 4-1 home victory over Roma and a 2-2 draw at Udinese.
However, Gilardino is sweating on the fitness of star striker Mateo Retegui, who suffered a knee injury in Udine.
The manager told a press conference: “Retegui still has pain in his knee, but we’ll wait 24 hours to see if there is a possibility of recovery without risking the rest of his season.
“Everyone’s desire is to see him on the pitch, but we need to be clear in our assessments.”
Whatever team he is able to field, Gilardino knows the task they face will be a tough one.
He added: “We will have to limit the percentage of errors on our part as much as possible. We are facing a strong team, both the starting XI and those who will take over, all players with important characteristics both in terms of technical qualities and physicality.
“I will ask the boys for a huge effort. The important thing will be to be united.”
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