Verstappen and Piastri: the class of the F1 grid in 2025
Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri - Photo: Race Pictures
A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
McLaren’s Saturday dominance has become one of the defining stories of the 2025 Formula 1 season, with Oscar Piastri leading Lando Norris.
With Piastri and Norris locking out the front rows on a regular basis, the papaya team’s relentless qualifying pace has been a key pillar of their title charge.
After 14 rounds, the numbers show just how far ahead they are and how the rest of the grid stacks up.
Piastri and Verstappen are the qualifying wonders of the 2025 F1 season
Oscar Piastri - 2.14, the benchmark in terms of qualifying for the current F1 season so far.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lando Norris - 3.29, close behind but with a few hits and misses to his name, with Saudi Arabia being his biggest blunder yet.
Max Verstappen - 3.50, carrying Red Bull’s Saturdays on his shoulders, as has been the case for several seasons now.
George Russell - 4.43, consistently getting Mercedes into fights they shouldn't be a part of.
Charles Leclerc - 5.14, up until Hungary it seemed as though his qualifying mojo had all but dissapeared.
Lewis Hamilton - 8.0, a significant fall for the driver with the most pole positions in the history of F1.
ADVERTISEMENT
Oscar Piastri in Spa-Francorchamps
With McLaren’s drivers setting the benchmark, every qualifying session in the second half of 2025 will be a test of whether the chasing pack can close the gap.
Although with the teams' preparation for the upcoming 2026 regulations already in full swing, it's likely the Woking-based outfit will keep their Saturday supremacy intact until Abu Dhabi.
Read also
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google
