The Qatar GP qualifying session is complete, and Max Verstappen secures an outstanding pole position! George Russell claims second place, while McLaren dominates the second row. Ferrari lines up fifth and seventh.
It’s pole position for MAX Verstappen! The Dutch Red Bull driver delivers a sensational lap, clocking in at 1:20.520. This marks his first pole in 147 days, the last being in Austria. George Russell comes tantalizingly close to snatching pole, missing out by just 55 thousandths of a second with a 1:20.575.
McLaren locks out the second row, with Lando Norris third and Oscar Piastri fourth. Charles Leclerc takes fifth, trailing Piastri by just 23 thousandths. Lewis Hamilton places sixth, narrowly ahead of Carlos Sainz in seventh, separated by only 30 thousandths. Completing the top ten are Fernando Alonso, Sergio Pérez, and Kevin Magnussen.
Qatar GP Qualifying Recap: Q1
All drivers started on soft tires in Q1. George Russell set the pace with a 1:21.2, showcasing the strong form Mercedes displayed during both the Sprint and earlier practice sessions. Initially struggling, Leclerc and Sainz improved significantly to secure second and third places respectively, followed by Norris in fourth and Verstappen in fifth. Aston Martin surprised everyone, with Alonso and Stroll advancing in sixth and thirteenth positions.
Hamilton and Pérez, advanced comfortably, as did Piastri. Sauber delivered an impressive performance, with Bottas and Zhou Guanyu qualifying for Q2 in twelfth and fourteenth. Dropped out both Williams cars (Albon P16 and Colapinto P19), Lawson (P17), and, surprisingly, Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Ocon.
Qatar GP Qualifying Recap: Q2
Most drivers opted for used soft tires in Q2, except for Oscar Piastri, who ran new rubber. Verstappen led the early timesheets with a 1:21.085, followed by Russell and the McLaren pair. Ferrari started from seventh (Leclerc) and eighth (Sainz), trailing Pérez and Gasly. Lando Norris then took the lead with a 1:20.983, a mere 66 thousandths ahead of Verstappen. Russell, Leclerc, and Piastri followed closely, all within a tenth of Norris.
At the last moment, Verstappen storms back with a 1:20.687, beating Norris by nearly three tenths. Leclerc places third, with Sainz seventh. Russell, Hamilton, and Piastri round out the top six, while Alonso, Magnussen, and Pérez secure their spots in the top ten. Pierre Gasly narrowly misses out, eliminated by just 12 thousandths. Other Q2 exits included Zhou and Bottas (P12 and P13), Tsunoda, and Stroll.
Photo: Mercedes AMG Petronas, Oracle Red Bull Racing, McLaren