F1 | Qualifying | Austrian GP | Norris snatches pole for McLaren - Motorsport

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Qualifying for Round 11 of the 2025 F1 season is complete, with the starting grid for the Austrian GP now set. Check out the full report and results below.

With Mercedes showing unexpected speed around Spielberg, Ferrari’s new floor delivering encouraging results, and Verstappen looking formidable in his Red Bull, the two McLarens face a fierce battle to secure spots on the front row. Can Norris and Piastri turn their free practice pace into qualifying success, or will Max Verstappen clinch a sixth pole at the Red Bull Ring? Or could Ferrari spring a surprise and thrill the Tifosi? Read on to find out.

First part of Q1

As all 20 drivers went out on soft tyres, Stroll set an early benchmark for the Austrian GP Qualifying session, as he logged a 1:06.061 in the Aston Martin. His time was quickly beat by Alexander Albon and Esteban Ocon locking in respectively 1:06.015 and 1:05.745.

Five-time Austrian GP winner Max Verstappen briefly claimed the top spot with a 1:05.106, only to be swiftly eclipsed by rival Lando Norris, who laid down an impressive 1:04.672. The Ferraris of Hamilton and Leclerc followed closely in third and fourth, until rookie standouts Antonelli and Hadjar split the Scuderia duo, shaking up the order.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz dangerously dipped a wheel in the gravel of the Red Bull Ring, getting him a punishing 13th position with a 1:05.899.

With 7 minutes to go in Q1, Franco Colapinto still had not put in a fast lap to make it to the second part of qualifying. After both Alpines switched early on for a second set of fresh soft tyres, Colapinto put his A525 in a vulnerable P12 with a 1:05.547 as teammate Pierre Gasly in P6 with a 1:05.292.

Norris – still the only driver to break into the 1:04s – was soon joined at the top of the timesheets by teammate Oscar Piastri, who clocked a strong 1:05.004 to secure provisional P2.

Second part of Q1

The Kick Saubers both carried impressive speed in the session with Bortoleto in P5 with 5 minutes remaining to the first part of the Austrian GP Qualifying. He was bumped down to P6 after Albon posted a sharp 1:05.143, slotting himself into P5. However, his teammate Sainz was left with little time to attempt another run after an earlier mistake, leaving him vulnerable in P15 and at serious risk of elimination as Q1 neared its end.

Verstappen joined the McLarens at the front with a quick 1:05.106, managing to reach P3.

Down in P17, Ocon tried to improve his time to avoid a Q1 exit. The Frenchman was able to do so, but set a disappointing 1:05.364 after fighting his Haas around Spielberg. Nevertheless, he was promptly pushed back down in the danger zone with most drivers going for another flying lap.

Russel stood in the drop zone as only a few seconds remained in the session but miraculously improved to P11. Meanwhile, Tsunoda did not find an improvement and was out in Q1 alongside Williams’ Sainz in P19, after driving an highly unbalanced car. This is his third Q1 exit in a row. On the other hand, Alpine’s Gasly secured an impressive P4.

Q1 results in F1 Austrian GP qualifying

Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
Liam Lawson
Pierre Gasly
Isack Hadjar
Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton
Gabriel Bortoleto
Alexander Albon
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
George Russel
Charles Leclerc
Fernando Alonso
Oliver Bearman
Franco Colapinto
Lance Stroll
Esteban Ocon
Yuki Tsunoda
Carlos Sainz
Nico Hülkenberg

Q2

Leclerc and Hamilton were the first to hit the track, setting early benchmark times of 1:05.446 and 1:05.651 respectively. Hamilton edged out his teammate in the first sector, but Leclerc responded with stronger pace through the middle and final sectors.

Hadjar split the Ferraris setting a 1:05.557 while his Kiwi teammate Lawson went to the top of the timesheets with a 1:05.248. Close behind, Gasly put in a competitive 1:05.717 in the Alpine. Verstappen then stormed to the fastest time in Q2, a 1:05.103, pushing his former teammate down to P2.

Piastri and then Norris seized the fastest times, posting impressive laps of 1:04.410 and 1:04.556 respectively. Leclerc and Hamilton soon joined the McLarens in breaking into the 1:04s, while Verstappen voiced strong frustrations with his RB21.

With five minutes left in Q2, the session was halted and red-flagged after a fire broke out on the grass, giving drivers a crucial pause to make final adjustments before their final flying laps.

As the track continued to evolve and get faster, no driver’s position was secure. When the session resumed, all 15 remaining drivers headed back out, eager to capitalize on the improving conditions.

Bortoleto jumped up to P3 with an impressive 1:04.946, marking the F2 champion’s first appearance in a top 10 shootout. However, his position was short-lived as Verstappen responded with a 1:04.836 to move ahead. Leclerc then delivered on his final Q2 lap, securing P3 behind the McLarens, while Gasly in P6 also advanced to the final segment of qualifying.

Q2 results in F1 Austrian GP qualifying

Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri
Charles Leclerc
Max Verstappen
Gabriel Bortoleto
Pierre Gasly
George Russel
Lewis Hamilton
Liam Lawson
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Fernando Alonso
Alexander Albon
Isack Hadjar
Franco Colapinto
Oliver Bearman

Q3

The ten fastest drivers went out on a grippier track for the final part of the Austrian GP Qualifying session. Oscar Piastri was the first to set a time in Q3, despite a slight error on the exit of Turn 1 and brushing the gravel at Turn 9. He still managed to go purple in the middle sector and posted a solid 1:04.554. Moments later, Norris delivered a clean lap to snatch provisional pole with an impressive 1:04.268, while Leclerc slotted into P2 with a strong 1:04.492. Fresh off his latest Grand Prix victory, George Russell could only manage P5, finishing just behind his former teammate Hamilton, who secured P4.

With three minutes remaining in the session, all drivers headed out for a final flying lap, each aiming to snatch pole position in the closing moments.

Verstappen was unable to improve on his Q1 time, missing out as the track continued to evolve. In contrast, the McLarens capitalized on the improving conditions, finding an impressive half-second gain since Q1. Verstappen set out early for what could have been his final push lap but ultimately backed off before completing it. Although he crossed the line in time to attempt another run, a later incident on track prevented him from making the most of that opportunity.

Leclerc secured a spot on the front row for tomorrow’s race with a strong lap that earned him P2, while Norris converted his earlier effort into a well-deserved pole position. At the same time, Gasly had a moment of drama, running into the gravel and briefly spinning, which brought out a yellow flag and disrupted the final laps of Piastri and Verstappen who had to settle for P3 and P7 respectively.