Qatar Grand Prix F1 Qualifying: Oscar Piastri Takes Pole After Winning Sprint

Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix with a superb lap to push McLaren teammate and Formula 1 title rival Lando Norris down to second on the grid for Sunday's race. Championship leader Norris leads Piastri by 22 points and defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 25. A victory for Norris on Sunday guarantees a first F1 title. He needs to finish four points ahead of Piastri and one point ahead of Verstappen, who is chasing a fifth straight F1 crown. Earlier Saturday, Piastri won the sprint race from pole. Piastri's sprint win gave him eight points with seven going to Russell in second place. Norris took six points for his third-place finish, and Verstappen got five for finishing fourth.

Updated on: 30 November 2025 9:03 am

Qatar Grand Prix F1 2025 Qualifying-McLaren driver Oscar Piastri

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia celebrates after setting the pole position in the second qualifying session at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Darko Bandic

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Qatar Grand Prix F1 2025 Qualifying-McLaren driver Lando Norris

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, pole position, looks to McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, after the second qualifying session at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Darko Bandic

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Qatar Grand Prix F1 2025 Qualifying-Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, pole position, center, is flanked by second best time McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands after the second qualifying session at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Darko Bandic

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Qatar Grand Prix F1 2025 Qualifying-Oscar Piastri of Australia

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the second qualifying session at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Fatima Shbair

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McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia steers his car during the sprint qualifying at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Darko Bandic

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Qatar Grand Prix F1 2025 Qualifying-Lewis Hamilton of Britain

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the second qualifying session at the Lusail International Circuit ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Fatima Shbair

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Qatar Grand Prix F1 2025 Qualifying-Red Bull driver Max Verstappen

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, at the Lusail International Circuit, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri

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Qatar Grand Prix F1 2025 Qualifying-Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, at the Lusail International Circuit, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri

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Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, at the Lusail International Circuit, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri

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McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Qatar Formula One Grand Prix, at the Lusail International Circuit, in Lusail, Qatar. | Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri