Oscar Piastri grabbed sprint pole in Qatar, his first pole of any kind since the Dutch GP three months ago. The Australian beat Lando Norris (P3) and put championship rival Max Verstappen back in P6, giving himself a golden chance to claw back points in Saturday’s sprint. With only eight points on offer, it won’t swing the title on its own, but the timing is perfect for a driver who’s been short on confidence lately.
Sky F1 pundit Karun Chandhok was standing near Piastri’s camp when the final time flashed up. Mark Webber, watching alongside Piastri’s father, let out a huge cheer that could be heard across the garage area. After weeks of watching his driver struggle in qualifying, Webber’s reaction showed just how much this result meant to the whole team around the 24-year-old.
Piastri had looked quick from the very first lap of FP1 and carried that speed into sprint qualifying. Qatar’s fast, flowing layout plays to his strengths in high-speed corners, while Norris prefers tighter, slower sections. The result backs up what McLaren boss Andrea Stella has been saying: the final two tracks of 2025 should suit Piastri better than the last few have.
The pole also comes at a moment when rumours have been swirling about Piastri’s mood and his future. Some reports claim Webber is planning strong words with McLaren over the winter to make sure his driver feels fully supported in 2026. Damon Hill noticed the change straight away, posting on Instagram that Piastri was “smiling again” after doing a “good job” on Friday.
With Norris 24 points clear and able to cruise to the title by finishing third in every remaining session, Piastri needs everything to go his way. Overtaking is tough in the sprint and the short DRS zone doesn’t help, but starting from the front gives him the best possible platform to fight back and keep the championship alive into Sunday and Abu Dhabi.
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