Oscar Piastri delivered a calm but decisive performance to secure the Piastri Qatar pole win, taking his first top spot since the Dutch Grand Prix. He kept control when the final Q3 moments turned tense and used the opportunity with confidence.
Piastri Capitalises as Norris Backs Out
Norris set the early benchmark with a strong 1:19.495 that placed him ahead of Piastri and Russell. Verstappen sat fourth as the field prepared for the last flying laps of the session.
Late Q3 Error Opens the Door
Norris pushed first on the final run, yet a snap of oversteer at Turn 2 ruined his attempt. He backed off as the lap began to unravel, leaving a clear chance for Piastri to respond.
McLaren Takes Control with a Clean Lap
The Australian delivered under pressure and posted a sharp 1:19.387. His lap gave him a tenth over Norris, securing McLaren’s advantage as Verstappen slotted in behind them.
Verstappen Edges Russell for Third
The Red Bull driver lacked outright pace but managed enough grip to move ahead of Russell. The Dutchman kept the gap stable while Mercedes focused on extracting balance from both cars.
Strong Midfield Efforts Shape the Grid
Antonelli secured fifth with a tidy final sector, while Hadjar took sixth for Racing Bulls. Sainz placed seventh despite causing red flags after leaving the pit box with plastic stuck to his tyre.
Alonso Leads the Chase Behind the Top Seven
The Aston Martin driver delivered a controlled lap for eighth ahead of Gasly. Leclerc completed the top ten after a steady Q3 run that kept Ferrari in the midfield battle.
Norris Recovers from Q2 Trouble
The championship leader faced early pressure after losing his first time for track limits. He then produced a clean one-shot lap on fresh Softs that carried him from fifteenth to a solid second.
Close Calls and Eliminations in Q2 and Q1
Hülkenberg missed the cut in eleventh, followed by Lawson and Bearman. Further back, Bortoleto and Albon rounded out the Q2 exits. The opening session saw Tsunoda pushed out late despite an improved run.
Performance and Pace Snapshot
McLaren showed strong rotation in the medium-speed corners and consistent traction. Red Bull carried good straight-line speed, while Mercedes relied on stability in the final sector to stay competitive.
Summary
Piastri’s sharp Qatar pole win came through clean execution and a composed final run. His late effort reshaped the front of the grid and set the stage for an intense fight with Norris and Verstappen in Sunday’s race.
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 8 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 10 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber |
| 12 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber |
| 15 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 16 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
| 17 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 18 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
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Source: FIA
