Overview

• Max Verstappen secured pole position, with Carlos Sainz lining up second for Williams and Liam Lawson third for Racing Bulls in a shuffled grid.
• The session ran for roughly two hours and set a Formula 1 qualifying record with six red flags as strong gusts and light rain triggered repeated incidents.
• McLaren faltered as Lando Norris qualified seventh and championship leader Oscar Piastri will start ninth after a Q3 crash, reducing the team’s chances of sealing the constructors’ crown on Sunday.
• Ferrari struggled with Charles Leclerc crashing in Q3 to start tenth and Lewis Hamilton missing Q3 in 12th after a tyre strategy misstep.
• Mercedes locked out P4 and P5 with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, though Antonelli faces a post‑session review for a potential yellow‑flag breach, and forecasts point to more wind and possible rain for the race.