Lando Norris delivered a blistering performance to claim pole position for the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, producing the most dominant qualifying display of the season so far. The McLaren driver topped all three sessions and clocked a sensational 1:03.971 in Q3 — finishing over half a second clear of his nearest rival.
What To Know?
- Norris takes dominant pole: A 1:03.971 lap secures Norris his third pole of 2025, over half a second ahead of Leclerc.
- Late yellow flags shake Q3: Gasly’s spin prevents Piastri and Verstappen from improving, leaving them P3 and P7.
- Bortoleto and Lawson shine: Rookie Bortoleto makes Q3 for the first time (P8), while Lawson takes a career-best P6.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured second on the grid, but his best effort was 0.521s off Norris’ benchmark time. The gap marked the largest pole margin seen in 2025, underlining the McLaren driver’s supremacy around the Red Bull Ring.
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Oscar Piastri looked poised to challenge for a front-row start, but a late yellow flag — triggered by Pierre Gasly’s spin — disrupted final attempts. The Australian had to settle for third, unable to improve on his earlier lap.
Lewis Hamilton followed in fourth, continuing to show solid pace for Ferrari, while George Russell put his Mercedes in fifth, fresh off a win in Canada. The surprise of the session came in the form of Liam Lawson, who impressed in the Racing Bulls entry by taking sixth, ahead of reigning champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver, like Piastri, was hampered by the yellow flag and couldn’t mount a final attack.
Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto made headlines with a breakthrough Q3 appearance, putting his Kick Sauber in eighth — a career-best. Behind him, Mercedes’ young talent Kimi Antonelli grabbed ninth, with Gasly holding on to P10 despite his late-session spin.
Fernando Alonso, mentor to Bortoleto, narrowly missed out on Q3 and will start 11th for Aston Martin. Williams’ Alex Albon will line up alongside in 12th after a difficult session for the team.
Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar aborted his final flyer and took 13th, just ahead of Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Haas prospect Ollie Bearman, who claimed 14th and 15th respectively.
Q1 brought a major shock as Carlos Sainz was knocked out early, ending up 19th and voicing concerns over potential car damage. Other Q1 casualties included Lance Stroll in 16th, Esteban Ocon in 17th for Haas, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in 18th, and Nico Hulkenberg in 20th for Kick Sauber.
2025 Austrian GP Qualifying Results
2025 Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying, 28 June 2025.
| POS. | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:04.672 | 1:04.410 | 1:03.971 | 18 |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:05.197 | 1:04.734 | 1:04.492 | 21 |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:04.966 | 1:04.556 | 1:04.554 | 19 |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:05.115 | 1:04.896 | 1:04.582 | 21 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:05.189 | 1:04.860 | 1:04.763 | 18 |
| 6 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:05.017 | 1:05.041 | 1:04.926 | 17 |
| 7 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:05.106 | 1:04.836 | 1:04.929 | 18 |
| 8 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | 1:05.123 | 1:04.846 | 1:05.132 | 21 |
| 9 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:05.178 | 1:05.052 | 1:05.276 | 17 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:05.054 | 1:04.846 | 1:05.649 | 21 |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:05.197 | 1:05.128 | 14 | |
| 12 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:05.143 | 1:05.205 | 18 | |
| 13 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:05.063 | 1:05.226 | 12 | |
| 14 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:05.278 | 1:05.288 | 15 | |
| 15 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:05.218 | 1:05.312 | 15 | |
| 16 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:05.329 | 9 | ||
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:05.364 | 9 | ||
| 18 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | 1:05.369 | 6 | ||
| 19 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:05.582 | 12 | ||
| 20 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | 1:05.606 | 9 |
2025 Austrian Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying session.
| POS. | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 6 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 7 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 8 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber |
| 9 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 12 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 13 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 14 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 15 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 16 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 18 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing |
| 19 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 20 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber |
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 27 June 2025 – 29 June 2025
Race date: Sunday, 29 June, 2025
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Red Bull Ring
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.318km
2024 winner: George Russell
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