Oscar Piastri kicked off the penultimate race of 2025 in style. The Australian made a strong impression during the first and only practice hour for the Qatar Grand Prix, narrowly outpacing his teammate Lando Norris and giving Max Verstappen and Red Bull something to think about.
Racking up mileage, collecting data, and trying to understand the tyres: these are the main themes as all ten Formula 1 teams send their drivers onto the track at dusk in Qatar. Sixty minutes is all the time they have during the desert sprint weekend to find answers. As a result, it’s rush hour from the opening minute at the Losail International Circuit.
After the bizarre conclusion in Las Vegas last Sunday, where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified after the race due to excessive plank wear, the pressure is on for the three remaining title contenders. However, Max Verstappen claims he doesn’t feel it at all. He’s the outsider, who had already bid farewell to a fifth crown after the Dutch GP. The reigning world champion is now tied for second place with Piastri, 24 points behind leader Norris.
The single practice hour shows that the field in Qatar is very evenly matched, although the amount of fuel on board and the engine setting can distort the picture. The margins are minimal in sixty minutes of full throttle. Verstappen complains about steering problems in the opening phase, while Charles Leclerc is concerned about the balance of his Ferrari. The Dutchman also has a minor on-track incident with former teammate Pierre Gasly, who he claims significantly hinders him, leading to some strong language.
Both McLarens, which underwent significant adjustments before the race, need time to gain speed. Halfway through, Norris is left wondering where he can find the one and a half seconds he’s lagging behind trendsetter George Russell in the Mercedes. Although he manages to shave off a significant chunk, the nearly fourteenth of a second gap will likely unsettle the Brit heading into the sprint and regular qualifications. His colleague Oscar Piastri is almost seventeenth of a second behind Russell. Notably, Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls secures third place, and he is likely to be announced as Verstappen’s new teammate for 2026 next week.
In the final minutes of the qualification simulations (with the softest tire), the Frenchman is the first to beat Russell’s time. However, this doesn’t last long. Piastri shows that he hasn’t given up on the world title just yet. The Australian clocks in just ahead of Norris and well ahead of Fernando Alonso for the fastest time. Verstappen is nearly sixteenth of a second behind.
