Winners and losers from 2025 Austrian Grand Prix qualifying

Winners and Losers from Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying

A field of mixed fortunes in Austrian Grand Prix qualifying saw a dominant pole-sitter and several high-profile drivers unexpectedly struggling.

Winners:

Lando Norris (1st)

McLaren's pace was undeniable throughout the weekend, and Norris capitalized fully. Despite a minor error in Q2, he secured a dominant pole position, setting a crushing final lap that left no doubt about his performance.

Ferrari (2nd and 4th)

Ferrari's upgrades appear to be effective, with Charles Leclerc qualifying second and Lewis Hamilton fourth. While Leclerc admitted to being half a second off Norris, the strong showing from both drivers suggests significant progress in addressing their key 2025 season issues.

Gabriel Bortoleto (8th)

Bortoleto secured his first Q3 appearance, capping a quietly strong rookie season. Consistently quicker than teammate Nico Hulkenberg, his performance at the Red Bull Ring positions him well for a strong points finish on Sunday.

Liam Lawson (6th)

In a surprising turn of events, Lawson secured the highest grid position among the 'Red Bull family' drivers. His strong Q1 pace carried through, resulting in the second-best qualifying result of his F1 career.

Pierre Gasly (10th)

Gasly delivered a stellar performance to snatch 10th place for Alpine, significantly outqualifying teammate Franco Colapinto. Despite a late spin that prevented him from improving further, his Q2 showing was particularly impressive.

Losers:

Red Bull (7th and 18th)

Red Bull faced a challenging qualifying session as their car struggled. Max Verstappen qualified seventh after aborting a lap due to yellow flags, while Yuki Tsunoda was unexpectedly eliminated in Q1, despite showing good form earlier in the weekend.

Kimi Antonelli (9th)

Following his Canadian Grand Prix podium, Antonelli qualified ninth, a disappointing result for Mercedes. The team appeared vulnerable throughout qualifying, with last-gasp laps needed to progress.

Lance Stroll (16th)

Despite strong practice pace, Stroll was eliminated in Q1, a stark contrast to his teammate Fernando Alonso who made it to Q2. Stroll cited changing track temperatures and a lack of grip as reasons for his struggles.

Carlos Sainz (19th)

Sainz labelled his car "undriveable" after being eliminated in Q1. He struggled with the car's balance, particularly under braking, and finished significantly slower than teammate Alex Albon, marking his third consecutive Q1 exit.

Nico Hulkenberg (20th)

Sauber's lead driver, Hulkenberg, had a difficult qualifying session. Despite being faster than his rookie teammate in practice, a significant lock-up ruined his final lap, relegating him to last place.