Austrian Grand Prix qualifying results: Norris powers to pole after fire halted session
Reach Daily Express June 29, 2025 01:39 AM

Lando Norris continued his dominant weekend at the Red Bull Ring, fending off team-mate Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri to score pole position for Sunday's race. The British racer has had the measure of his McLaren colleague throughout every stage of the Austrian Grand Prix so far.

Norris laid down the early markers in Q1 with a fastest lap over three tenths faster than team-mate Piastri, while Verstappen continued the trend of 2025, popping up in third. Gabriel Bortoleto and Alex Albon both produced exceptional times, putting their Sauber and Williams cars in the top seven spots.

George Russell nearly suffered a shock early elimination after a scruffy final run. The Brit eventually climbed to P11 in Q1, but there was no such luck for Yuki Tsunoda, who was taken out of qualifying at the earliest opportunity once again.

McLaren posted some daunting times early in the second part of qualifying, with Norris going nearly seven tenths faster than Max Verstappen, who was complaining that his car was "undriveable". Both Ferraris sandwiched themselves between the three championship contenders, while Mercedes' struggles continued.

The red flag made a brief appearance halfway through the session as the marshals diffused a small grass fire. When Q2 resumed, there were a couple of surprises in store. Kimi Antonelli narrowly avoided the bottom five, while Bortoleto's dazzling run continued as he ended the stint in P5.

In Q3, Norris once again set the pace, and the Brit had luck on his side on the final runs. A spin from Pierre Gasly triggered Verstappen and Piastri to abort their laps, while he punched in a mesmerising lap to lock down the biggest pole margin of the season so far.

For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express F1 newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.

Austrian Grand Prix qualifying results

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)

2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

5. George Russell (Mercedes)

6. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

8. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

9. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

12. Alex Albon (Williams)

13. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

14. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

15. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

18. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

19. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

20. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)

© Copyright @2025 LIDEA. All Rights Reserved.