F1 Sprint Qualifying Results: Disaster for Max Verstappen as Oscar Piastri surges back to pole

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Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying

F1 Sprint Qualifying Results: Disaster for Max Verstappen as Oscar Piastri surges back to pole

All the drama from sprint qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix

Originally written by Chris Deeley. This version is a translation.

Friday 28 November 2025 19:33

Max Verstappen put himself immediately on the back foot at the Qatar Grand Prix on Friday, qualifying just sixth behind his championship rivals for Saturday's sprint race.

Oscar Piastri, level on points with the Dutchman, took pole position with a new track record lap, while Lando Norris will start from third after George Russell split the McLarens.

Making matters worse for Verstappen, he was beaten for the first time all year in a qualifying or sprint qualifying by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda – for the first time in 25 sessions.

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Verstappen's disappointing qualifying spot stemmed in part from a mishap on his first flying lap, going off track at Turn 4 to leave him needing to do it all in his final attempt.

Earlier, Lewis Hamilton was knocked out of qualifying for the sprint in SQ1, as his miserable first F1 season at Ferrari draws to a close.

Norris needs to outscore Verstappen and Piastri by two points this weekend to wrap up the title, with eight points on Saturday a great start to that goal.

F1 Sprint Qualifying Results: Qatar Grand Prix 2025

Position	Driver	Team	Time/Status
1	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:20.055
2	George Russell	Mercedes	+0.032s
3	Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.230s
4	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+0.395s
5	Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull	+0.464s
6	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.473s
7	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+0.477s
8	Carlos Sainz	Williams	+0.487s
9	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	+0.567s
10	Alex Albon	Williams	+0.733s
11	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	OUT IN SQ2
12	Oliver Bearman	Haas	OUT IN SQ2
13	Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber	OUT IN SQ2
14	Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	OUT IN SQ2
15	Esteban Ocon	Haas	OUT IN SQ2
16	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	OUT IN SQ1
17	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	OUT IN SQ1
18	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	OUT IN SQ1
19	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	OUT IN SQ1
20	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	OUT IN SQ1