LOSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Max Verstappen qualified on pole for the Qatar Grand Prix on Friday, a day before he can secure his third consecutive Formula One title in the sprint race.

Verstappen set a commanding time early in the third and last session of qualifying and bailed out of his final run. It didn't matter as George Russell could only manage a time .441 seconds slower than Verstappen as he qualified second. His Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton was third, .527 off the pace.

Verstappen can secure the title with at least a sixth-place finish in the sprint Saturday. That contest will have its own separate qualifying session earlier the same day.

Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez qualified only 13th for Sunday's race after his best time in the second part of qualifying was deleted because he went off track. Had it counted, he would have scraped into the third session in 10th.

Even if Verstappen fails to clinch the title in Saturday's sprint, Perez would have to storm through the field on Sunday and score far more points than Verstappen to keep the title race alive.

There was also disappointment for Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr., who was 12th, seven places behind his teammate Charles Leclerc. Lance Stroll was another driver who qualified far behind his teammate, placing 17th for Aston Martin while Fernando Alonso was fourth.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing