Overview
- Norris leads the standings by 12 points and can secure the championship with a top‑three finish, while Piastri remains an outside contender starting third.
- Verstappen topped Q3 by 0.201s over Norris after an initial tow from Tsunoda, then improved without it, yet he still needs results behind him to swing the title.
- Pirelli and team analysts warn that degradation and overheating could push teams from the expected one‑stop to two stops, potentially reshuffling track position.
- McLaren signaled it may order a position swap to prioritize Norris if Piastri’s title hopes fade, with team leadership framing it as a contingency for late‑race scenarios.
- Russell qualified fourth ahead of Leclerc and Alonso, while Hamilton exited in Q1 for the fourth straight time, starting 16th.