Overview

• Oscar Piastri secured pole position with a 1:11.546 lap, beating teammate Lando Norris by two-tenths to complete McLaren's front-row lockout.
• The FIA’s tougher front wing tests had no discernible effect on McLaren’s qualifying performance.
• Max Verstappen brought upgrades to his Red Bull but faces a 0.302-second gap to Piastri and raised concerns over soft-tyre degradation.
• Teams must contend with track temperatures near 30 °C on abrasive asphalt that threatens to accelerate tyre wear during the grand prix.
• Lance Stroll withdrew due to persistent hand pain and cannot be replaced after qualifying under current FIA regulations.