A stunning upset at Lusail — and the underdog stole the spotlight. Oscar Piastri snatched pole position for the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint, edging out George Russell and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in a qualifying session that kept fans on the edge of their seats. But here's where it gets controversial — championship frontrunner Max Verstappen could only manage sixth, leaving many to wonder whether the reigning champion is suddenly losing his edge.
After a tense battle under the desert lights on Friday, Piastri delivered when it mattered most. His final lap in SQ3 stopped the clock at 1:20.055, just 0.032 seconds clear of Mercedes’ Russell. The Australian was inch-perfect on both flying laps — a cool display of precision under pressure that earned him the Sprint pole for Saturday’s 19-lap showdown.
Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for Norris. Carrying a 24-point lead over both Piastri and Verstappen heading into the weekend — and with his first Formula 1 title within reach — the Briton made a rare mistake, running wide at the very last corner on his final attempt. That small slip cost him dearly, dropping him to P3, two-tenths off Piastri’s pace.
Behind the front trio, Fernando Alonso shocked many by bringing his Aston Martin up to fourth. And in an intriguing twist, Yuki Tsunoda out-qualified Red Bull star Verstappen — a result almost nobody saw coming. The Dutchman’s Red Bull seemed unsettled by bouncing issues, forcing him to settle for sixth. Could this be a sign of deeper trouble at Red Bull, or just a one-off blip?
Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed yet again with a top-10 performance, finishing seventh ahead of Carlos Sainz, now racing for Williams. Charles Leclerc managed ninth for Ferrari, while Alex Albon completed the top 10 in the second Williams machine.
Sprint Qualifying Highlights – Formula 1 Qatar Airways Grand Prix 2025:
1. Oscar Piastri – 1:20.055
2. George Russell – 1:20.087
3. Lando Norris – 1:20.285
4. Fernando Alonso – 1:20.450
5. Yuki Tsunoda – 1:20.519
(Full results available at Formula1.com)
Elsewhere, frustration was the theme for several drivers. Isack Hadjar narrowly missed out on SQ3 after his best lap was deleted for breaching track limits at Turn 8. The Racing Bulls driver ended the session 11th, ahead of rookie Ollie Bearman (Haas) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber). Nico Hulkenberg suffered a similar fate — his late lap also disallowed for running wide, leaving the Sauber man 14th behind Esteban Ocon’s Haas.
Further down the order, Lance Stroll was the first driver to be eliminated in SQ1. Right behind him came Liam Lawson in the second Racing Bulls car and Lewis Hamilton, whose struggles in qualifying continue after another early exit. The back of the grid was rounded out by the two Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, who will hope to salvage something from Saturday’s 19-lap Sprint.
There’s plenty to unpack here — from Piastri’s quietly growing confidence to Verstappen’s uncharacteristic sixth place. Has the tide begun to turn in favor of McLaren? Or will the Red Bull retaliate when it counts the most? Share your take in the comments: is this just a blip for Verstappen or the start of a new balance of power in Formula 1?
