Oscar Piastri delivered a final-lap performance to snatch pole position for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, edging out team-mate Lando Norris in a dramatic McLaren one-two. With the papaya cars trading blows all weekend, it was the championship leader who struck when it mattered most, clocking a 1:11.546 to secure his fourth pole of the 2025 F1 World Championship campaign.
What To Know?
- Piastri on Pole: Oscar Piastri secured his fourth pole of the season with a 1:11.546, leading a McLaren front-row lockout ahead of Lando Norris.
- Verstappen vs Russell: Verstappen and Russell set identical lap times (1:11.755), but the Red Bull driver starts P3 after setting his lap earlier.
- Shock Exits: Carlos Sainz was eliminated in Q1 (P18), while Yuki Tsunoda brought up the rear in P20 after a disappointing session for Red Bull.
Piastri had set the tone early, topping both Q1 and Q2 with confident, clean laps. But it was Norris who drew first blood in Q3, taking provisional pole on the opening run. That set up a tense finale at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya — and when the track peaked in grip, Piastri delivered, finding over two-tenths to reclaim the top spot by 0.209s.
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Max Verstappen managed to split the McLarens temporarily, but ultimately settled for third. His 1:11.755 was matched exactly by George Russell, but with the Red Bull driver crossing the line first, it was Verstappen who took the inside slot on row two. The reigning champion, however, still faces an uphill battle, trailing Piastri by 25 points in the standings.
Lewis Hamilton emerged as the top Ferrari in fifth, with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli continuing to impress in sixth. Charles Leclerc, struggling to extract pace from the SF-25, could only manage seventh. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly slotted into eighth, while Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar continued his excellent weekend form in ninth. Local hero Fernando Alonso rounded out the top 10 for Aston Martin.
Just missing the cut for Q3 was Alex Albon, who fell short by just 0.034s in P11. Behind him were Gabriel Bortoleto (P12), Liam Lawson (P13), Lance Stroll (P14), and Ollie Bearman (P15).
A frantic Q1 saw several big names fall early, including Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Ocon, while home favourite Carlos Sainz was left frustrated in 18th after a poor final sector on his last run. Franco Colapinto’s qualifying ended prematurely due to a pit lane issue, keeping him in P19, and Yuki Tsunoda had a session to forget, finishing dead last and a full second behind team-mate Verstappen.
As McLaren lock out the front row and Verstappen lurks on row two, Sunday’s race is set for fireworks — and with both championship contenders at the sharp end, the next twist in the 2025 F1 World Championship is just around the corner.
Stroll to miss the Grand Prix
Late that evening, Aston Martin confirmed that Lance Stroll would miss the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix as he prepared to undergo a medical procedure due to ongoing discomfort in his hand and wrist.
Stroll took part in Qualifying at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, finishing the session in 14th place. However, just hours later, the team announced that he would not continue for the remainder of the weekend.
A statement from Aston Martin explained: “Over the course of the past six weeks Lance has been experiencing pain in his hand and wrist, which his medical consultant believes is in relation to the procedure he underwent in 2023.
“As a result his medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery.”
2025 Spanish GP Qualifying Results
2025 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying, 31 May 2025.
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:12.551 | 1:11.998 | 1:11.546 | 14 |
2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:12.799 | 1:12.056 | 1:11.755 | 15 |
3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:12.798 | 1:12.358 | 1:11.848 | 12 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:12.806 | 1:12.407 | 1:11.848 | 12 |
5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:13.058 | 1:12.447 | 1:12.045 | 15 |
6 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:12.815 | 1:12.585 | 1:12.111 | 18 |
7 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:13.014 | 1:12.495 | 1:12.131 | 12 |
8 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:13.081 | 1:12.611 | 1:12.199 | 18 |
9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.139 | 1:12.461 | 1:12.252 | 15 |
10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.102 | 1:12.523 | 1:12.284 | 14 |
11 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.044 | 1:12.641 | 14 | |
12 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.045 | 1:12.756 | 12 | |
13 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.039 | 1:12.763 | 12 | |
14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.038 | 1:13.058 | 15 | |
15 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.074 | 1:13.315 | 15 | |
16 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.190 | 6 | ||
17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.201 | 9 | ||
18 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.203 | 6 | ||
19 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 1:13.334 | 7 | ||
20 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.385 | 6 |
2025 Spanish Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying session.
Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:11.546 |
2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:11.755 |
3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:11.848 |
4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:11.848 |
5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:12.045 |
6 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:12.111 |
7 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:12.131 |
8 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:12.199 |
9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:12.252 |
10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:12.284 |
11 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:12.641 |
12 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:12.756 |
13 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:12.763 |
14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.058 |
14 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.315 |
15 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:13.190 |
16 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.201 |
17 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.203 |
18 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 1:13.334 |
19 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.385 |
Note – Stroll withdrawn due to injury. Tsunoda required to start from the pit lane after car was modified under Parc Ferme conditions. |
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 30 May 2025 – 1 June, 2025
Race date: Sunday, 1 June, 2025
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Laps: 66
Circuit length: 4.675km
2024 winner: Max Verstappen
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