Austrian Grand Prix Quali Highlights, F1 2025: Norris Clinches Pole At Red Bull Ring; Leclerc Claims P2

The Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix 2025 race will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India.

The qualifying race of the Austrian Grand Prix 2025 will start at 17:30 PM IST at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

It's mostly sunny in Spielberg. During the quali race, the temperature is going to be 27 degree C with 0% chance of rain. Here's the hourly weather update:

And yet again, Lando Norris topped. He finished the final practice at the Red Bull Ring first, leading a McLaren 1-2 ahead of title rival Oscar Piastri by 0.118s. Verstappen was third despite a late spin, while Ferrari showed a little promise with Leclerc and Hamilton in P4 and P5. With qualifying up next, all eyes are on whether Norris can finally convert practice pace into pole.

And FYI, this one race is really important for Norris to keep his championship hopes alive, as he trails Piastri by 22 points. A win in Austria would keep the title fight within reach and prevent the gap from growing beyond a full race win.

McLaren are the favourites of the 2025 Formula 1 season, with Oscar Piastri leading the Drivers’ Championship and Lando Norris not far behind in second. In the Constructors’ standings, the papaya team holds a commanding lead with 374 points -- 175 points ahead of second-placed Mercedes.

Piastri has has won five races and secured eight podium finishes. Norris, while consistent, has managed two race wins and eight podiums of his own.

However, McLaren’s momentum took a hit last weekend, at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Mercedes’ George Russell took victory, followed by Max Verstappen in second and rookie Kimi Antonelli finishing third. Piastri came home fourth, while Norris endured a weekend to forget. The Brit crashed into the back of teammate that compromised both drivers’ races, admitting, “I made a fool of myself.” Read more ...

Things are getting interesting between Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff.

The Mercedes boss has made it clear he’s still keen on signing Max for 2026, even though he’s locked in at Red Bull until 2028. George Russell, whose contract ends next year, hinted these talks might be holding up his own deal. While Wolff says he’s happy with Russell and Antonelli, it’s clear Mercedes are keeping the door open for Max.

“You make it sound like we have been asking, ‘when do you want to join and what are the terms?’ That’s not how it is and how it works,” said Wolff.

The Prancing Horses debuted their third SF‑25 floor upgrade in Austria, targeting stability and aerodynamic range. The revised floor aims to reduce “squat sensitivity” and improve outwash efficiency, making the car more predictable through corners and better managing tyre wear.

Key changes include reshaped front-floor fences, tunnel re-optimisation, edge-wing tweaks, and diffuser volume updates--designed for better downforce over varied ride heights.

However, Lewis Hamilton tempered expectations, asking fans to not expect changes. Read more here ...

It's blazing hot and completely sunny at the Red Bull Ring today, with no clouds in sight and zero chance of rain. Temperature is around 27 degree Celcius.

After a surprise P4 in FP2 and P9 in final practice, Lance Stroll is showing strong early pace in Q1. The Aston Martin driver is currently making his way behind Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon.

And here we go -- teams hitting top gear already! Lando Norris is setting the pace now ahead of Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton isn't far off either, sitting just behind the front two.

Carlos Sainz is pushing hard late in Q1 but finds himself down in 15th with just under three minutes to go. Meanwhile, his teammate Alex Albon has surged up to P5. Can the Spaniard squeeze through to Q2?

Big shock early! Carlos Sainz is out in P16 after getting bumped by Esteban Ocon in the final moments. WAIT WHAT! Even more surprising--George Russell is driving the hell and struggling on P15!

We have lost Stroll, Ocon, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Bearman.

Two minutes into Q2 and Ferrari's floor upgrade on the SF-25 already seems to be working. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are looking smooth and settled out on track in top 2.

It's hot enough at the Red Bull Ring and some parts of the grass catching fire causing red flag. Meanwhile, Norris and Piastri are right back on top, leading the pack again. All are in pits.

Verstappen: "The car is completely undriveable. I have no grip. It's even worse than before."

Engineer: "Understood."

Verstappen: "I really don't know what to say, like, I have no grip low speed, medium speed, high speed."

Q2 wraps with Norris leading a McLaren one-two, followed by Leclerc in third. With trackside grass catching fire earlier, officials will dampen the area before the final shootout in Q3.

What remains the best in the second session is that Gabriel Bortoleto made it to his first Q3.

11: Fernando Alonso (AST)

12: Alex Albon (WIL)

13: Isack Hadjar (RB)

14: Franco Colapinto (ALP)

15: Oliver Bearman (HAS)

Norris is absolutely flying! And this is what he needs.

Norris sets the benchmark early in Q3 with a blistering 1:04.268 -- he's looking unstoppable. Leclerc trails by over two-tenths. Meanwhile, there have been multiple unsafe releases in the pit lane.

If Max Verstappen takes pole today, it’ll be his sixth in a row at Red Bull’s home track. But he has work to do -- currently sitting sixth, behind George Russell.

So Verstappen's streak breaks, and it is Lando Norris who claims the pole ahead of Charles Leclerc clocking a time of 1:03.971. Oscar Piastri settles for this. The Red Bull driver will start from P7 tomorrow.

Norris pulls off an extra ordinary lap with a stunning 0.521s gap over the second placed Charles Leclerc and a point to be noted, this is the biggest pole margin of the 2025 season so far.

1: Lando Norris (MCL) — 1:03.971

2: Charles Leclerc (FER) +0.521

3: Oscar Piastri (MCL) +0.583

4: Lewis Hamilton (FER) +0.611

5: George Russell (MER) +0.792

6: Liam Lawson (RB) +0.955

7: Max Verstappen (RBR) +0.958

8: Gabriel Bortoleto (SAU) +1.161

9: Kimi Antonelli (MER) +1.305

10: Pierre Gasly (ALP) +1.678

Here's the Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying report

That's all from our end from the qualifying race of the Ausrtain Grand Prix 2025. Let's joing tomorrow again for the live coverage of the main race. Till then, take care!