Piastri takes pole in Qatar. Norris 2nd, Verstappen 3rd, and Ferrari's nightmare

Oscar Piastri has delivered another statement performance under the Lusail floodlights, securing pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix and keeping his championship hopes alive. The McLaren driver, already on a high after winning the Sprint earlier today, edged teammate Lando Norris by 0.108s in a tense Q3 finale that was briefly interrupted by a red flag.

McLaren Lockout in Qatar

McLaren’s pace was untouchable throughout qualifying, with both Piastri and Norris consistently trading fastest laps. Norris initially set the benchmark with a 1:19.495, but a small twitch at Turn 2 on his final run forced him to abort, leaving the door open for Piastri to snatch pole with a 1:19.387. The result means McLaren will start 1-2, a perfect launchpad for a potentially decisive race in the title fight.

Verstappen and Russell on Row Two

Max Verstappen, still searching for the sweet spot in his Red Bull this weekend, could only manage third, 0.264s off Piastri’s time. George Russell will join him on the second row, the Mercedes driver once again showing strong one-lap pace but unable to match the papaya cars. Both will be crucial players in the championship permutations — Verstappen must finish ahead of Norris tomorrow to keep his title hopes alive.

Top Ten Recap

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:19.387
Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.108
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.264
George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.275
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.459
Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – +0.727
Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.900
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +1.031
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.090
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +1.174

Drama in Q3

The final segment was disrupted by debris on track — a piece of plastic from Sainz’s car and gravel from Leclerc’s spin — prompting a red flag. When the session resumed, the tension was palpable. Norris’ early lap looked promising until that Turn 2 moment, while Verstappen’s tyres faded in the closing stages, preventing him from capitalising.)

Big Names Out Early

Lewis Hamilton’s difficult weekend continued with a Q1 elimination in 18th, marking back-to-back poor qualifying results in Qatar. Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, and Franco Colapinto also fell at the first hurdle. Q2 claimed Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Alexander Albon.

Championship Picture

Norris leads Piastri by 22 points and Verstappen by 25. A win tomorrow for Norris would seal the championship with one round to spare. For Piastri, it’s win or bust — victory would take the fight to Abu Dhabi. Verstappen needs to beat Norris to stay in contention.

Tyre Strategy and Race Outlook

Tomorrow’s Grand Prix is set to be a flat-out two-stop race due to Pirelli’s 25-lap maximum stint rule. The medium compound is expected to be the preferred race tyre, but qualifying pace was all about the softs. With McLaren’s dominance over one lap, the start will be critical — especially for Norris, who could clinch the title, and for Piastri, who must keep the dream alive.

Key Takeaways

McLaren’s pace advantage is clear, but tyre management could level the playing field.
Verstappen and Russell must disrupt the McLaren 1-2 to influence the championship fight.
Hamilton’s slump continues, raising questions about Ferrari’s late-season form.
The Lusail circuit’s high-speed nature and mandated two-stop strategy promise aggressive racing.

Tomorrow’s race at 19:00 local time (16:00 UTC) could decide the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship — or set up a thrilling showdown in Abu Dhabi. All eyes will be on the front row as the lights go out.