Oscar Piastri secured pole position in the Catar GP sprint race this Friday, November 28, 2025, in Lusail. The Australian McLaren driver recorded 1m20s055 on the final lap of SQ3 and surpassed George Russell by just 0s032. Lando Norris, the championship leader, completed the top 3, while the Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, from Sauber, starts in 13th.
The qualifying session took place at 6pm local time (12pm Brasília) and defined the grid for the short race scheduled for this Saturday, at 2pm local time (8am Brasília). The competition took place at an ambient temperature of 28°C and a track temperature of 35°C.
Piastri will start in the privileged position to get the eight points allocated to the winner of the sprint. The result keeps the title race alive with two stages remaining in the 2025 championship.
Lando gave it everything in a bid to snatch#F1SprintPole 😵#F1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/UiaEiA82Ma
—Formula 1 (@F1)November 28, 2025
Decisive lap sets grid at Lusail
The McLaren driver waited for the final moments of SQ3 to record his best lap. Russell was provisionally leading until being overtaken by Piastri at the checkered flag.
The minimum difference of 0s032 highlighted the balance between McLaren and Mercedes in the classification. Norris was 0s230 behind his teammate.
Bortoleto performance in classification
Gabriel Bortoleto advanced to SQ2 after finishing SQ1 in the classification zone. The Brazilian recorded the fifth best provisional time in the first segment.
In SQ2, the Sauber driver failed to improve enough and ended up eliminated in 13th. Nico Hulkenberg, his companion, starts right behind, in 14th.
Issues affect performance of Verstappen
Max Verstappen faced difficulties with Red Bull’s car throughout the session. The four-time champion reported excessive jumps and loss of traction at the front.
The Dutchman qualified in sixth place, behind his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who starts in fifth. Foi the first time in 2025 that Verstappen was behind the Japanese in the standings.
Complete sprint race grid
- 1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1m20s055
- 2. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0s032
- 3. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0s230
- 4. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0s395
- 5. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +0s464
SQ1 highlights and eliminations
Lando Norris set the initial benchmark time on medium tires. Verstappen took the lead in the final minutes of the first segment.
Lewis Hamilton was one of the negative surprises and will only start in 18th. Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto completed those eliminated from SQ1.
Tight dispute in SQ3
The Mercedes opened the fast laps on soft tires in the final segment. Russell led until Piastri’s decisive attempt.
Tsunoda provisionally surpassed Norris, but the Englishman regained third place. Carlos Sainz, from Williams, closed the top 8 with eighth time.
Championship scenario after classification
Piastri will reduce at least one point from his 24-point deficit to Norris if he wins the sprint. The title could still be defined this Saturday depending on the results.
Verstappen, tied with Piastri in the table, lost ground in the direct fight with the McLaren. The short race distributes points up to eighth place.
The sprint race takes place this Saturday at 2pm local time at Lusail and will last 19 laps or 60 minutes. Qualifying for the main Catar GP takes place this Friday at 10pm local time.
