Piastri takes final sprint pole of 2025 in Qatar, Norris third and Verstappen only sixth

Oscar Piastri clinched the final sprint pole of the season ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris, while championship hopeful Max Verstappen had a frustrating session riddled with instability and could only manage sixth.

Oscar Piastri sealed sprint pole with a new track record to boot | Credit: Formula One

After the lone practice session topped by Oscar Piastri closely followed by championship leader Lando Norris, the grid geared up for the final sprint qualifying session of the year under the floodlights of Lusail.

The prelude to the Qatar Grand Prix began with sprint qualifying, topped by Piastri who returns to the front of the field after many weeks spent falling behind. The Australian driver also set a new track record at the Lusail International Circuit, with a blistering 1:20.055.

Meanwhile, a bumpy run on the final lap caught out Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen experienced bouncing throughout the session, lining up sixth for the sprint, behind Yuki Tsunoda for the first time as teammates in Red Bull.

SQ1 - Shock exit and a busy track

Heading out on the medium compound for the first time this weekend, a queue of cars formed at the pit lane, Max Verstappen at the head of that line to post the first benchmark of 1:22.258.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc joined the Red Bull driver at the top, nine tenths adrift, while Lando Norris set a rapid lap to jump to the top.

With seven minutes to go, Oscar Piastri slotted into second, followed by Isack Hadjar who found himself in third.

It was a busy circuit with track evolution incrementally ramping up, as Verstappen shaved off more time on Norris and Fernando Alonso took the Aston Martin to fourth behind Piastri.

At five minutes to go, the drivers at risk were Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto and the two Mercedes.

As the seconds ticked down, both the Sauber cars placed themselves firmly within the top five with impressive laps, while Piastri pipped his teammate in P1.

Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli’s first push lap wasn’t enough to rescue him from the elimination zone, with the bottom five now occupied by Antonelli, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, Hamilton and Colapinto.

Lewis Hamilton had a somber evening with another exit in the first part of a qualifying session | Credit: Formula One

Under two minutes to go, and Alonso dragged his Aston Martin to the top of the times, while their Constructors’ Championship rivals Haas were in 13th and 14th, at risk of elimination.

The big names in the drop zone were still Antonelli and Hamilton. 

As the final seconds of SQ3 ticked down, Hamilton couldn’t improve past 16th, with a poor Sector 1 and traffic down the main straight. Meanwhile, the rookie who replaced him at Mercedes hauled his car past the line to knock out the seven-time world champion.

SQ1 Exits

Lance Stroll

Liam Lawson

Lewis Hamilton

Pierre Gasly

Franco Colapinto

SQ2 - Lap times deleted and plenty of dust kicked up

The remaining 15 drivers headed back out, again on the mandated medium compound, with Verstappen again setting the first benchmark.

Leclerc climbed up to second, but not without a dicey moment through Turn 16 as he narrowly managed to keep four wheels on the track.

Mercedes again opted to run late, with Russell managing to get through in third while Antonelli was the last of the field to set a lap time, unable to get through the elimination zone.

With three minutes to go, Verstappen complained over the radio of unpredictable bouncing with the car.

Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Gabriel Bortoleto and Alonso were at the bottom of the pack.

With under two minutes to go and the track at its best thus far, Verstappen set another lap that took him to third, the Red Bull driver unable to pip the two McLarens at the top led by Norris.

Lando Norris topped SQ2 | Credit: Formula One

As the seconds ticked down, Yuki Tsunoda crossed the line to take fourth just behind his teammate, fighting for his future in Formula One, while Albon 

It was a narrow miss from elimination for Antonelli, who was saved by Hadjar’s lap being deleted, while Nico Hülkenberg also had his lap time deleted.

Several drivers, including Norris, also took a trip through the gravel traps across the circuit on their final runs, kicking up plumes of dust under the floodlights.

SQ2 Exits

Isack Hadjar

Ollie Bearman

Gabriel Bortoleto

Nico Hülkenberg

Esteban Ocon

SQ3 - Piastri back on top while Norris and Verstappen falter

Drivers took no delay heading back out, as they ventured out on soft tyres for the final run of sprint qualifying.

This time, Mercedes understandably took to the track early, Russell setting a 1:20.528, soon bested by Piastri by two tenths, while his championship rival Norris managed to set a lap four hundredths adrift of provisional pole. 

Verstappen’s frustrations continued, as he vented that his car was “bouncing like an idiot” after the car took a bumpy trip through the gravel.

With just one minute left to decide the final sprint polesitter of the season, Verstappen in 10th was urged to maintain track position, as he once again was the first car to launch into a push lap on the second set of runs.

As the chequered flag fell, Verstappen could only manage fourth while his teammate Tsunoda outqualified his four-time champion, jumping up to third.

Max Verstappen had bouncing throughout the session which compromised his floor | Credit: Formula One

The rest of the pack then crossed the line in quick succession, Piastri storming to pole ahead of Russell.

Norris, who was on a promising lap, lost it right at the end, slinging onto the main straight but going across the gravel once more.

Alonso took a mighty fourth place, jumping ahead of Tsunoda in fifth.

Meanwhile a session riddled with bouncing and instability saw Verstappen in sixth, who was followed by Antonelli, Carlos Sainz, Leclerc and Albon to complete the top 10 for the sprint.

Looking Ahead

Piastri will no doubt relish heading into the 19-lap sprint on pole, with eight points on the table and his championship rivals starting further behind.

Verstappen on the other hand will be eager to regroup with the team and get to the bottom of the bouncing issues that cost him dearly during sprint qualifying, while Norris lurks in third, ready to challenge his teammate for the win to secure his championship bid.

A thrilling sprint awaits us in Lusail, with three drivers still mathematically in the fight for the 2025 title.