Oscar Piastri clinches pole for Belgian GP sprint race

Dominika Jordan
Jul 25, 2025, 11:42 AM ET

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Oscar Piastri Claims Pole for Belgian Grand Prix Sprint Race

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding performance to secure pole position for Saturday's sprint race at the Belgian Grand Prix, outpacing Max Verstappen and teammate Lando Norris. Piastri’s remarkable lap of 1:40.510 established him as the driver to beat, wrapping up what was shaping up to be a fiercely contested qualifying session in dominant fashion.

The current championship leader gave McLaren fans a scare during Q2 when he narrowly avoided elimination, scraping through in 10th after his standing plummeted in the final moments of the session. But once the Australian made it to Q3, there was no stopping him.

"Let’s go baby!" Piastri exclaimed over the team radio after his pole-grabbing run. "Sorry for the heart attack. That wasn’t the plan!"

Piastri vs. Norris: Championship Showdown

The pole offers Piastri a crucial opportunity to extend his lead in the championship over teammate and title rival Lando Norris. The British driver qualified third for the sprint, 0.6 seconds behind Piastri, and currently holds second in the standings, trailing by eight points.

Slotted between the McLaren duo is reigning world champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver had been on course to secure pole in the team's first competitive session without longtime team principal Christian Horner at the helm, but a late charge from Piastri denied him the top spot.

Strong Performances and Struggles

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc delivered a solid qualifying effort to take fourth, but his time was seven-tenths off Piastri’s pace, even with Ferrari debuting their highly anticipated upgrade package. Meanwhile, Leclerc's teammate Lewis Hamilton endured a disastrous session, spinning out in Q1 and relegating himself to 18th on the grid for the sprint.

Haas emerged as a surprising contender Saturday, with Esteban Ocon and rookie Ollie Bearman impressively qualifying fifth and seventh, respectively. The duo was split by Carlos Sainz, whose sixth-place effort for Williams added to the unexpected complexion of the top 10.

The list of unlikely Q3 finishers included Pierre Gasly and rookie sensations Isak Hadjar and Gabriele Bortoleto, who rounded out the ninth and tenth spots.

Mercedes and Red Bull Under Pressure

It was a session to forget for Mercedes, as their struggles in wet conditions showcased significant vulnerabilities. Their standout rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli saw his session end prematurely with a spin at Stavelot in Q1. George Russell also failed to make it past Q2, leaving Mercedes with no representation in the fight for the top 10.

Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, still searching for form, could only manage 12th. He finished behind Liam Lawson, who was a last-minute call-up for AlphaTauri earlier this season.

Weather Looms Ahead

The main storyline heading into the rest of the weekend will undoubtedly be the weather. With rain predicted for the sprint and Sunday’s traditional qualifying session, the Belgian Grand Prix could produce even more upsets.

The sprint race will provide an exciting lead-up to Sunday, with drivers battling for crucial championship points just hours before the qualifying session that will lock in the grid for the main event. As the rain looms large, the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix is shaping up to be another unpredictable chapter in the Formula 1 season.