Norris dominates in qualifying: Piastri and Verstappen flounder
Photo: RacePictures
Updated: 21:11, 08 Nov 2025
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Lando Norris has taken pole position ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in P2 and Charles Leclerc in P3, with Oscar Piastri and Isack Hadjar closing off the top 5.
How it happened
Q1
After the first round of push laps, it was Bearman leading the field, with Piastri, Alexander Albon, Pierre Gasly and Andrea Kimi Antonelli occupying the top 5 spots.
Max Verstappen complained of a seemingly undriveable RB21, was placed in P16 with his qualifying session in apparent danger.
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As Norris and Gasly went 1-2, the reigning world champion was still slow and alongside Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen met his demise in the first part of qualifying.
Eliminated: Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda, Gabriel Bortoleto, Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto.
Q2
In the first set of push laps in Q2, Bearman was again the quickest, beating Piastri's time by 0.80s, posting a 1:09.755s at the line. Norris couldn't go quicker either, qith his time, although purple in Sector 3, was still down on the British rookie. Andrea Kimi Antonelli went closest, just 019.00s off.
For Ferrari a different tale played out altogether. Similar to their early form, the SF-25 could not muster more pace, as Charles Leclerc could be found in P14 and Lewis Hamilton on the cusp of elimination in P10, being outpaced by both Racing Bulls with Liam Lawson leading Isack Hadjar, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Williams' Alexander Albon.
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Q2 would see its end with Norris jumping to P1 and Leclerc to P3, and with Alonso, Albon, Hamilton, Stroll and Sainz eliminated.
Q3
Charles Leclerc seemed to be the biggest McLaren challenger, coming in from nowhere he took the top spot ahead of Piastri and Bearman. Albeit momentarily, as Norris put up the impressive lap that got him pole.
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Overview
Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
08:30 AM
Practice 2
12:00 PM
Friday 25.09.26
Practice 3
08:30 AM
Qualification
12:00 PM
Saturday 26.09.26
Race
11:00 AM
Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
Thu 08:30 AM
Practice 2
Thu 12:00 PM
Friday 25.09.26
Practice 3
Fri 08:30 AM
Qualification
Fri 12:00 PM
Saturday 26.09.26
Race
Sat 11:00 AM
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