Qatar Sprint Qualifying: Hamilton stunned by Q1 exit again

Qatar Sprint Qualifying: Hamilton stunned by Q1 exit again – Leclerc scrapes into top ten. Oscar Piastri takes pole for the Qatar GP Sprint.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-25, front wing, 2025 F1

The final Sprint Qualifying session of the 2025 season has concluded at the Qatar Grand Prix. The session set the grid for tomorrow’s Sprint race at 15:00 local time. Here’s a summary of the action and the key results, including who will start at the front and who will have to fight their way up.

SQ1: A shocking elimination

As per Sprint Qualifying rules, all drivers started on medium tyres. Max Verstappen was the first out, looking to find the pace that had eluded him in FP1. Lando Norris initially set the fastest time, followed by a resurgent Oscar Piastri and Fernando Alonso. Verstappen was sixth, more than six-tenths off the pace, while Charles Leclerc was eighth and Lewis Hamilton an astonishing 17th. The track, as usual, was improving rapidly, and lap times fluctuated depending on the running order. Verstappen briefly took the lead with a 1:21.494, only to be overtaken again by Piastri and Norris, separated by just a tenth. Alonso then moved to the top, before Verstappen reclaimed it. Ferrari struggled, with Leclerc down in 13th and Hamilton shockingly eliminated in 18th.

Eliminated in SQ1: Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto

SQ2: McLaren 1-2 confirmed

The second session began with a potential impeding between Norris and Verstappen, which ultimately had no impact. Drivers stayed on medium tyres while the track gradually reached its limit. After the first runs, Norris set a 1:20.956, followed by Piastri, confirming a McLaren 1-2. Verstappen was fourth, with Charles Leclerc seventh. The session also saw surprises, with Isack Hadjar fifth and Nico Hulkenberg challenging for top positions. In the final runs, Verstappen closed to just 0.080 seconds off Norris, Charles Leclerc moved up to sixth, while Kimi Antonelli narrowly avoided elimination thanks to a track limits violation by Hadjar. Hulkenberg also made a costly mistake at the final corner.

Eliminated in SQ2: Isack Hadjar, Ollie Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon

SQ3: Piastri shines for pole

For the first time in SQ3, drivers switched to soft tyres. Verstappen made an error in the first sector of his opening lap, aborting his attempt. Piastri took provisional pole, just 0.044 seconds ahead of Norris, with George Russell and Leclerc forming the second row. In the final runs, Piastri delivered a flawless lap to secure pole, ahead of Russell and Norris. Alonso claimed an impressive fourth, while Max Verstappen could only manage sixth, even behind team-mate Yuki Tsunoda. Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc finished eighth and ninth respectively.