Austrian Grand Prix: Lando Norris Claims Pole At Spielberg Ahead Of Charles Leclerc

Last Updated:June 28, 2025, 22:10 IST

McLaren's Norris will start the Austrian GP from pole as he edged out Ferrari's Leclerc, while Norris' teammate and championship leader, Piastri, will start from the second row.

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain reacts after winning the pole positio at the qualifying at the Red Bull Ring racetrack, ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

McLaren driver Lando Norris raced to the pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday as he pipped Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with a quicker lap in the qualification round at Spielberg. Norris’ McLaren teammate and championship leader, Oscar Piastri, came in third.

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The 25-year-old Briton completed an outstanding lap in one minute and 3.971 seconds, outpacing nearest rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari by 0.521 seconds, with McLaren team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri finishing third.

Norris, who trails Piastri by 22 points in the drivers’ title race, swiftly moved past any remnants of his collision with Piastri in Canada two weeks ago with a remarkable display of his speed and talent.

“It was a good lap, that’s for sure," said Norris. “Bit by bit, I was able to find more time. Q1 was good, but I knew there were a few places I could improve, and I did what I planned to do."

Verstappen had taken pole position at the Red Bull-owned circuit in the Styrian Alps for the last five F1 races before Norris succeeded, securing his first pole in Austria, his third of the season, and the 12th of his career.

Team-mate Piastri was disappointed and frustrated.

“I had Pierre Gasly spin at the first corner, so I didn’t even start my second lap. Lando has been very quick all weekend, so it would have been a tough challenge, but we had the pace to be on the front row.

“We can still have a good race from there, and we are not here to come home third."

Verstappen’s last lap was hindered by a yellow flag waved when Gasly spun in his Alpine, preventing him, like Piastri, from clocking a flying lap time. He finished seventh.

Leclerc said, “I’m very pleased. It’s been a long time since we started on the front row, and it’s been a difficult season overall, but the team has kept pushing.

“We brought some new parts this weekend which made a difference. We know we have a better car in the race than in qualifying, so I hope we can put more pressure on the McLarens."

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Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was an encouraging fourth ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, four-time champion Verstappen of Red Bull, and Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber.

Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli was ninth in the second Mercedes and Gasly 10th.

The session began in hot conditions with temperatures of 32 (air) and 48 (track), indicating hard work for tyres.

After a frantic finale, in which Russell recovered from the drop zone to 11th, it was Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon of Haas, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, Carlos Sainz in the second Williams, and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg who were eliminated.

The entire field was separated by less than a second, with the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Tsunoda, sixth and 18th, only 0.25 seconds apart. It was Sainz’s third consecutive Q1 exit.

The track temperature reached 50 at the start of Q2, with Ferrari leading the way on used softs as Norris established his dominance again before a trackside grass fire prompted a red flag stoppage, with Hamilton running wide at turn 10.

Verstappen was unhappy with his car’s reaction to the heat. “No grip, it’s worse than before," he reported. “I don’t know what to say!"

After six minutes, the action resumed with only four to go as Norris and Piastri set the pace ahead of Leclerc, while two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Williams’ Alex Albon, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, Franco Colapinto of Alpine, and Oliver Bearman of Haas missed out.

This left Bortoleto celebrating his first top ten qualification in fifth for the improving Sauber outfit, while Verstappen complained he was impeded by a Ferrari in a way that was “a bit naughty and super unnecessary".

As Q3 began, Russell almost collided with a Ferrari when he was released into their path, narrowly avoiding an incident.

On the first runs, Norris was fastest again ahead of Leclerc, with Piastri third and Hamilton fourth. The Ferraris thrived in the heat as Mercedes struggled before Norris stormed to pole.

(With Inputs From AFP)

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News sports Austrian Grand Prix: Lando Norris Claims Pole At Spielberg Ahead Of Charles Leclerc