2025 Spanish GP Qualifying: Piastri Seals Stunning Pole in Barcelona

Piastri takes pole in Spain with 1:11.546 as McLaren lock out front row. Verstappen P3, Russell matches time; Sainz and Tsunoda out early in Q1.

Ben

By Ben Bush
Updated on June 1, 2025

Oscar Piastri McLaren 2025 Spanish GP Qualifying
Oscar Piastri (car no. 81) of McLaren secures pole ahead of Lando Norris at the 2025 Spanish GP in Qualifying // Image: McLaren Media

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.

PosNoDriverCarQ1Q2Q3Laps
181Oscar PiastriMcLaren Mercedes1:12.5511:11.9981:11.54614
24Lando NorrisMcLaren Mercedes1:12.7991:12.0561:11.75515
31Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:12.7981:12.3581:11.84812
463George RussellMercedes1:12.8061:12.4071:11.84812
544Lewis HamiltonFerrari1:13.0581:12.4471:12.04515
612Kimi AntonelliMercedes1:12.8151:12.5851:12.11118
716Charles LeclercFerrari1:13.0141:12.4951:12.13112
810Pierre GaslyAlpine Renault1:13.0811:12.6111:12.19918
96Isack HadjarRacing Bulls Honda RBPT1:13.1391:12.4611:12.25215
1014Fernando AlonsoAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:13.1021:12.5231:12.28414
1123Alexander AlbonWilliams Mercedes1:13.0441:12.64114
125Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber Ferrari1:13.0451:12.75612
1330Liam LawsonRacing Bulls Honda RBPT1:13.0391:12.76312
1418Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:13.0381:13.05815
1587Oliver BearmanHaas Ferrari1:13.0741:13.31515
1627Nico HulkenbergKick Sauber Ferrari1:13.1906
1731Esteban OconHaas Ferrari1:13.2019
1855Carlos SainzWilliams Mercedes1:13.2036
1943Franco ColapintoAlpine Renault1:13.3347
2022Yuki TsunodaRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:13.3856

2025 Spanish Grand Prix Starting Grid

The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying session.

PosNoDriverCarTime
181Oscar PiastriMcLaren Mercedes1:11.546
24Lando NorrisMcLaren Mercedes1:11.755
31Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:11.848
463George RussellMercedes1:11.848
544Lewis HamiltonFerrari1:12.045
612Kimi AntonelliMercedes1:12.111
716Charles LeclercFerrari1:12.131
810Pierre GaslyAlpine Renault1:12.199
96Isack HadjarRacing Bulls Honda RBPT1:12.252
1014Fernando AlonsoAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:12.284
1123Alexander AlbonWilliams Mercedes1:12.641
125Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber Ferrari1:12.756
1330Liam LawsonRacing Bulls Honda RBPT1:12.763
1418Lance StrollAston Martin Aramco Mercedes1:13.058
1487Oliver BearmanHaas Ferrari1:13.315
1527Nico HulkenbergKick Sauber Ferrari1:13.190
1631Esteban OconHaas Ferrari1:13.201
1755Carlos SainzWilliams Mercedes1:13.203
1843Franco ColapintoAlpine Renault1:13.334
1922Yuki TsunodaRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:13.385
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 20251 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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About The Author

Staff Writer

Ben Bush
Ben

Ben is a staff writer specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.

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