Motorsport photoJake Boxall-LeggeFri, November 28, 2025 at 6:36 PM UTC·7 min readOscar Piastri ended a difficult run of Formula 1 form with pole for the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, besting a late effort from George Russell as Lando Norris finished third.
Piastri had shown much improved pace from the outset of the Qatar weekend and headlined the sole free practice session, and set the best time among the first set of soft-tyre runs in SQ3 - just 0.044s ahead of team-mate Norris.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe McLaren pair then faced pressure as Russell opened his second lap in swaggering style; the Briton found almost two tenths on Piastri to sit at the top of the timing boards for a brief moment.
However, Piastri was improving on his second effort and found 0.032s over Russell to secure pole for Saturday's 19-lap sprint race, although Norris' second attempt did not yield that improvement.
Norris was down on his best lap in the opening two sectors, and dipped a wheel into gravel on the exit of the final corner to compound a difficult tour. Regardless, his first time was good enough for third on the sprint grid, with Fernando Alonso due to start alongside him on the second row as the Aston Martin driver unlocked good pace.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYuki Tsunoda outqualified Max Verstappen, as the Dutchman struggled to cope with the level of bouncing present in his car on the soft tyre. Verstappen's opening lap was aborted and, while he managed to register a clean run at the end, it was beaten by Tsunoda by just 0.009s.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingVerstappen had been investigated alongside Norris as both were investigated for impeding each other at various phases of SQ1 - but no further action was taken.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAndrea Kimi Antonelli bundled into seventh despite almost falling out of qualifying in the second phase of the session, 0.01s ahead of Carlos Sainz. Charles Leclerc finished the session ninth ahead of Alex Albon, who ensured that both Williams cars had got into SQ3 despite the team's expectations to struggle with the range of corners present at the Qatar circuit.
Antonelli had earned a reprieve and an entry into the final part of sprint qualifying when Isack Hadjar had his lap deleted for track limits at Turn 8; the Mercedes driver had not initially done enough on his final lap to progress, but Hadjar lost his 10th-place time after going off.
Ollie Bearman improved on his final lap but was unable to progress beyond 12th, while Gabriel Bortoleto outqualified team-mate Nico Hulkenberg; the Saubers will line up in 13th and 14th. Esteban Ocon was also eliminated from SQ2 in 15th.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLewis Hamilton was the biggest scalp claimed in the opening stage of sprint qualifying as he was unable to improve enough in his final lap to progress to SQ2. Hamilton sat in the drop zone ahead of his last effort, and only progressed up to 15th place - with drivers lower down the order improving on their final runs.
Antonelli's subsequent lap put Hamilton back into the bottom five, and improvements from Hadjar, Bearman, and Ocon ensured that Hamilton was pushed further down the order. The late improvement of the Haas drivers and Albon put Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson into the bottom five, ahead of Hamilton.
The Alpine duo of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto propped up the order having scarcely factored outside of the drop zone throughout the session.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPhotos from Qatar GP - Sprint Qualifying
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, WilliamsLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, WilliamsAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Rio Ferdinand arrives in the Paddock
Rio Ferdinand arrives in the PaddockSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Zak Brown, McLaren
Zak Brown, McLarenSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLiam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamGuido De Bortoli
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 walks in the Paddock
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 walks in the PaddockZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Williams
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, WilliamsLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberGuido De Bortoli
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamLance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberGuido De Bortoli
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberGuido De Bortoli
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberGuido De Bortoli
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariGuido De Bortoli
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberGuido De Bortoli
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
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