Oscar Piastri clinched pole position for the Sprint at Spa-Francorchamps, leading a McLaren front-row lockout with teammate Lando Norris right behind in second. The young Australian edged out Norris by just 0.011 seconds in a rain-hit qualifying session, marking his first Sprint pole in Formula 1.
Piastri, who has been pushing hard this season alongside Norris at McLaren, described the result as a solid boost after some mixed weekends. “Grabbing pole here feels good, especially with the tricky weather,” he said. “The car handled well, and it’s nice to see us up front again.”
Norris, starting his fifth year with McLaren, praised the team’s pace but admitted Piastri had the edge. “Oscar was quick today – fair play to him,” Norris noted. “I’m content with second, but we’ll fight hard in the Sprint.”
Max Verstappen, the reigning champion with Red Bull, settled for third after struggling with his car’s setup in the wet conditions. “Balance wasn’t ideal, but third is workable,” Verstappen commented. “We need tweaks before tomorrow.”
The session unfolded under changing skies at the Belgian circuit, with drivers navigating slick tires amid light rain, adding unpredictability to the grid. McLaren’s strong showing highlights their progress in 2025, as they challenge Red Bull and Ferrari in the constructors’ standings.
