F1 – Qatar GP 2025 Qualifying: Piastri Takes Sprint Pole as McLaren Dominates in Losail

Oscar Piastri stole the spotlight in Qatar GP 2025 qualifying, securing pole position for the Sprint Race after an intense and fast session marked by strong winds that made the track slippery and unpredictable. McLaren confirmed its excellent form, with the Australian delivering a flawless lap and extracting every bit of performance from his MCL39.

Starting alongside him will be George Russell, who completed an excellent qualifying session in a Mercedes that has shown continuous improvement in recent races. The Briton stayed close to Piastri’s benchmark but couldn’t close the gap in the final sector, still enough to secure a front-row start for the Sprint. Lando Norris, current championship leader, took third place with a controlled run, avoiding risks and securing a strong result in terms of the title fight.

Right behind them, Fernando Alonso continues to show strong pace with Aston Martin and will start from the second row. The surprise of the day was Yuki Tsunoda, fifth with an aggressive and effective lap in his Red Bull. Max Verstappen had to settle for sixth, complaining about a lack of grip and unstable balance in the RB21 on Losail’s fast corners.

A solid session also for Kimi Antonelli, seventh, increasingly impressive in short-format qualifying. Carlos Sainz put the Williams in eighth position, while Ferrari endured yet another difficult chapter of its season: Charles Leclerc could do no better than ninth, showing once again a nervous SF-25 with rear-end instability. Even worse was Lewis Hamilton’s afternoon—eliminated in Q1 and starting eighteenth in the Sprint Race, far from the lead group and without major opportunities for recovery.

Rounding out the top ten were Alexander Albon in the second Williams and a consistent Isack Hadjar for Racing Bulls. The group behind includes Bearman, Bortoleto, Zhou, and the two Alpine drivers Ocon and Gasly, still struggling for pace. Further back, Haas, Racing Bulls, and Andretti entries could not find the speed needed, while Valtteri Bottas closed in twenty-first place, reflecting ongoing difficulties adapting to the track.

The qualifying results set up a promising scenario for McLaren heading into the afternoon Sprint Race, with Piastri and Norris ready to fight for valuable points in the championship battle. Verstappen will need an attacking run, while Ferrari must find a way to limit the damage. Everything is set for a high-intensity Sprint as we wait for the official qualifying session that will determine Sunday’s race grid.

G.A.