Oscar Piastri (right) trails McLaren team-mate Lando Norris (left) by 24 points in the title race

Norris P3 in Qatar Sprint as Piastri Grabs Pole in Title Showdown

Lando Norris will start the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race from third on the grid as title rival and teammate Oscar Piastri took a crucial pole position, intensifying the three-way fight for the 2025 F1 World Championship.

Piastri Clinches Sprint Pole – Norris in Damage Limitation

Piastri dominated sprint qualifying, topping both flying laps to claim pole position ahead of George Russell, while Norris—despite showing pace—made a costly error out of the final corner, limiting him to third.

Piastri: “It’s been a good day… The pace was there all day.”

Norris: “I’m stupid to not try and win. It’s impossible to overtake, P3 is likely.”

With 8 points for a sprint win, Norris cannot mathematically clinch the title on Saturday but can on Sunday if he outscores both Piastri and Max Verstappen by two or more points.

Verstappen Struggles, Tsunoda Beats Him for First Time

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen endured a frustrating session and qualified sixth, beaten by teammate Yuki Tsunoda for the first time this season by just 0.009s.

Verstappen ran off at Turn 4, bouncing violently through gravel—raising concerns about potential floor damage. He later complained about bouncing and unpredictable balance, citing severe understeer switching to oversteer at high speed.

Verstappen: “It was not good. The car was bouncing badly. This won’t be fun in the sprint.”

Alonso Shines in Aston Martin

The standout performance came from Fernando Alonso, who remarkably qualified fourth in his underperforming Aston Martin.

Alonso: “One of the best results of the year… 24 years of experience still count!”

With Aston Martin languishing in 8th in the constructors’ standings, Alonso’s lap was a reminder of his sheer skill—despite jet lag and age.

Sprint Grid: Top 10

Position	Driver	Team
1	Oscar Piastri	McLaren
2	George Russell	Mercedes
3	Lando Norris	McLaren
4	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
5	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
6	Max Verstappen	Red Bull
7	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes
8	Carlos Sainz	Williams
9	Alex Albon	Williams
10	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes

Hamilton: Silent but Frustrated

Lewis Hamilton, who qualified 10th, offered minimal words post-session:

Hamilton: “Same as always.”

His low-key tone matched his ongoing frustration in a season where Mercedes continue to struggle for consistency.

Title Picture Heading into Sunday

Norris leads the title by 24 points over Piastri and Verstappen (tied).
He cannot clinch the title after the sprint alone, but a strong Sunday result could crown him world champion.
The Qatar GP sprint race will be pivotal for momentum heading into the decisive main race.