Formula 1 News: Piastri wins pole for 2025 Qatar GP Sprint Race
No. 81 McLaren driver Oscar Piastri turned a lap of 1m20.055s to win the pole for the 2025 Qatar GP Sprint Formula 1 race at the Lusail International Circuit.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
George Russell turned the 2nd fastest time in his #63 Mercedes, 0.032s behind Piastri
Points leader Lando Norris could only manage 3rd in the #4 McLaren, 0.230s behind Piastri.
Fernando Alonso was a sensational 4th for Aston Martin, 0.395s behind Piastri.
Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen were 5th and 6th in their inferior Red Bulls, 0.464s and 0.473s behind Piastri respectively.
Kimi Antonelli was seventh, ahead of Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, and Alex Albon in 10th.
“It’s been a good day, which is nice for a change,” said Piastri. “It has been a day where things have clicked from the start. I’m happy with the result, a few things to tidy up but it is nice to be able to say that starting from pole.
“It is only the Sprint, but I’ll take what I can get. The pace was there all day, hopefully we can keep that going.”
The gaps in the Sprint in terms of points are not big. It is not the Grand Prix. But it cannot be underestimated what this will do for Piastri’s confidence and state of mind.
If he can win the Sprint, and carry that moment into Qualifying – well. The chances of the Championship staying alive into Abu Dhabi increase hugely.
2025 Qatar GP Sprint Race Qualifying Results
| Pos | No. | Driver | Nat. | Team | SQ1 | SQ2 | SQ3 |
| 1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren F1 Team | 1m21.286s | 1m21.005s | 1m20.055s |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m21.432s | 1m21.136s | 1m20.087s |
| 3 | 4 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren F1 Team | 1m21.398s | 1m20.956s | 1m20.285s |
| 4 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m21.276s | 1m21.272s | 1m20.450s |
| 5 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m21.458s | 1m21.152s | 1m20.519s |
| 6 | 1 | Max Verstappen | NED | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m21.172s | 1m21.036s | 1m20.528s |
| 7 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m21.555s | 1m21.376s | 1m20.532s |
| 8 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m21.438s | 1m21.172s | 1m20.542s |
| 9 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m21.636s | 1m21.190s | 1m20.622s |
| 10 | 23 | Alex Albon | THA | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m21.721s | 1m21.212s | 1m20.788s |
| 11 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m21.399s | 1m21.433s | – |
| 12 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m21.526s | 1m21.494s | – |
| 13 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m21.623s | 1m21.567s | – |
| 14 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m21.327s | 1m21.631s | – |
| 15 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m21.773s | 1m21.666s | – |
| 16 | 18 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m21.807s | – | – |
| 17 | 30 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m21.851s | – | – |
| 18 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m22.043s | – | – |
| 19 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m22.112s | – | – |
| 20 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | ARG | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m22.364s | – | – |