Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, securing pole position for the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix with a commanding performance that left his rivals trailing. The McLaren driver set a blistering lap time of 1:03.971, finishing over half a second ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, marking the largest pole margin of the 2025 Formula 1 season so far. This triumph, Norris’s third pole of the year and 12th of his career, ended Max Verstappen’s five-year streak of pole positions at the Red Bull-owned circuit and signaled a resurgence for the British driver after a challenging Canadian Grand Prix.
Norris’s dominance was evident throughout the weekend, as he topped every session since second practice. His final lap in Q3 was a statement of intent, with McLaren’s upgrades to the front wing and suspension proving pivotal in unlocking the car’s potential. “It was a good lap, that’s for sure,” Norris said, reflecting on his performance. “Nice to see the old me back every now and then.” The result was particularly significant for Norris, who arrived in Austria 22 points behind his teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri after a collision between the two in Canada. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised Norris’s resilience, noting that the team had rallied around him to restore his confidence following the Montreal incident.
The qualifying session was not without drama. A brief yellow flag in Q3, triggered by a spin from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly at the final corner, disrupted the final runs of several drivers, including Piastri and Verstappen. Piastri, who had shown strong pace all weekend, was forced to abandon his last lap and settled for third, just 0.583 seconds behind Norris. “Lando’s been very quick all weekend, so it would have been tough to beat him, but I definitely had the speed for the front row,” Piastri said, expressing frustration but acknowledging his teammate’s form. Verstappen, meanwhile, struggled with an “undriveable” Red Bull, slumping to seventh, his worst qualifying result at the Red Bull Ring in years. The Dutchman lamented the impact of higher track temperatures, which he believed derailed Red Bull’s hopes of challenging McLaren.
Ferrari showed encouraging signs, with Leclerc securing second place despite being 0.521 seconds off Norris’s pace. Lewis Hamilton’s fourth-place finish marked his best qualifying result of 2025, bolstered by Ferrari’s introduction of a new floor for the Austrian weekend. George Russell rounded out the top five for Mercedes, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson delivered a standout performance, qualifying sixth—his best grid position of the season. Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, and Alpine’s Gasly completed the top ten, with Red Bull’s struggles further highlighted by Yuki Tsunoda’s disappointing 18th place.
The session faced a brief delay due to a dramatic crash in the earlier Formula 2 session, where Sami Meguetounif’s car flipped over two others, though all drivers emerged unharmed. A trackside grass fire in Q2 also caused a red flag, adding to the challenges of an eventful day. Despite these interruptions, Norris remained unfazed, setting the pace in Q1 and Q2 before sealing pole with a lap described as “untouchable” by observers.