F1 Qatar GP 2025 Sprint Qualifying, Highlights: Piastri, Russell And Norris Finish In Top 3; Verstappen Drops To 6th

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix 2025 Sprint qualifying race at the Lusail international circuit. The qualifier starts from 11:00PM (IST) onwards. Stay tuned for the updates

It's the final Sprint of the year in Qatar, and time is tight: just one hour of practice stands between the drivers and the all-important evening Sprint Qualifying, demanding quick decisions on car performance and setup.

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 1:20.924

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.058

3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.386

4. Carlos Sainz (Williams) +0.480

5. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +0.579

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.580

7. Alex Albon (Williams) +0.685

8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.744

9. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +0.745

10. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.774

The format: There will be three knockout sessions – SQ1 (12 mins), SQ2 (10 mins), SQ3 (8 mins). The first two sessions will have medium tyres, and the final one will have soft tyres. Five slowest drivers are eliminated at the end of the first two stages.

The lights are green, and we are underway in Qatar for the first session of the Sprint qualifying. Verstappen takes an early lead from the pack, hoping to set the tone for the rest of the night.

It's a brilliant tussle at the top between Alonso and Verstappen. Meanwhile, a big shock as seven-time world champions Lewis Hamilton suffers the drop in the very first session, ending at P18.

The five drivers who are eliminated are:

• Lance Stroll +0.635

• Liam Lawson +0.679

• Lewis Hamilton +0.871

• Pierre Gasly +0.940

• Franco Colapinto +1.192

"Ah man, the car won't go any quicker." - Hamilton expresses.

1. Verstappen

2. Alonso

3. Piastri

4. Hulkenberg

5. Norris

6. Hadjar

7. Russell

8. Sainz

9. Tsunoda

10. Bearman

11. Isack Hadjar: +0.477

12. Oliver Bearman: +0.538

13. Gabriel Bortoleto: +0.611

14. Nico Hulkenberg: +0.758

15. Esteban Ocon: +0.710

8-minute final sprint for sprint pole on soft tyres is underway. Who will finish on top? We will find that out very soon.

Unbelievable work there by Yuki Tsunoda, who has gone ahead of teammate Max Verstappen, who is down to 6th.

Australian Oscar Piastri finishes with a time of 1m20.055s and he will take Sprint Pole.

1. Oscar Piastri: 1:20.055

2. George Russell: 1:20.087

3. Lando Norris: 1:20.285

4. Fernando Alonso: 1:20.450

5. Yuki Tsunoda: 1:20.519

6. Max Verstappen: 1:20.528

7. Kimi Antonelli: 1:20.532

8. Carlos Sainz: 1:20.542

9. Charles Leclerc: 1:20.622

10. Alexander Albon: 1:20.788