Formula 1 News: Piastri leads Qatar GP Sprint race start to finish

Polesitter Oscar Piastri, driving the superior Rob Marshall designed McLaren, won the 2025 Qatar GP Sprint race from start to finish on the Lusail International Circuit.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

By winning, Piastri (pictured) gained two points on leader Lando Norris and now sits 22 points behind his teammate.

The top-3 starters finished the way they started, with George Russell bringing his Mercedes home in 2nd, 4.991s behind Piastri.

Lando Norris in the #4 superior McLaren was third at the finish, 6.279s behind Piastri.

Max Verstappen gained two positions from his 6th place start to finish one spot behind point leader Norris in 4th and is now 25 points behind. He was 9s behind Piastri at the finish.

Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top-5 in the second Red Bull, 19.3s behind Piastri. Both Tsunoda and 6th place Kimi Antonelli received a 5s penalty for exceeding track limits.

Fernando Alonso was seventh ahead of the Williams of Carlos Sainz Jr.

“It’s been a good weekend so far, everything went smoothly in the Sprint. Just need to keep it rolling,” Piastri. “The pace has been strong, and it is a track I have enjoyed in the past and I am enjoying it again, clearly!”

“A good [Sprint], good to get P2,” added 2nd place Russell. “The last two laps were a real struggle, the track is so quick and brutal on tires. I was trying to nest [my neck] as much as possible, but it is really cool and glad we have the chance to race around here.”

“I tried to go forwards [towards Russell], we got pretty close at the start but it was good,” said Norris.

“It is hard to pass here, so all about Qualifying. I think it will be close, I don’t think it will be an easy one.”

Norris now has 396 points.

Piastri is second on 374.

Verstappen has 371.

So, if Norris wins the Grand Prix, he is champion. Verstappen must finish ahead of Norris to stand any chance of keeping his Championship alive…

2025 Qatar GP Sprint Race Results – 19 Laps