Overview
- Oscar Piastri secured pole by 0.012 seconds over Lando Norris, reinforcing McLaren’s season‑long pace at a circuit where passing is typically difficult.
- Max Verstappen exceeded the in‑lap delta by 3.8 seconds but kept P3 when officials ruled his reduced speed was due to a late yellow flag.
- Rookie Isack Hadjar delivered a standout P4 for Racing Bulls, with George Russell fifth ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
- Aston Martin’s day unraveled as Lance Stroll crashed and recorded no time to start last, while Fernando Alonso qualified tenth after a stronger Friday.
- Off track, Cadillac confirmed Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas as its inaugural F1 lineup, a pragmatic experience play that has drawn mixed expert reactions.