Carlos Sainz was among the first to be knocked out in the initial Q1 stage, complaining of issues with his brakes and floor. Yuki Tsunoda looked uncomfortable too in a Red Bull that Verstappen was also finding tricky to drive. The reigning champion made it through but Tsunoda didn’t and will start 18th, ahead of Sainz and Nico Hülkenberg. Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon were knocked out in Q2 as well.
Q2 became a five minute shootout when Lewis Hamilton ran wide onto the grass at the final corner and sparked a fire on the dry ground. The session was stopped just as Alex Albon was starting his flying lap on fresh tyres, leaving him the only one on used tyres when the session resumed with enough time for each driver to set a final run.
The handicap was too much for Albon to overcome and he ended Q2 in the drop zone, along with Fernando Alonso, Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar, who had looked to have top ten pace in his Racing Bull.
His team-mate Lawson did, and moved into Q3 along with Bortoleto who made it to the final ten for the first time.
Below is the provisional starting grid, which can change ahead of the race if penalties are applied or a driver needs to start from the pitlane.
2025 Austrian Grand Prix starting grid
1 |
Lando Norris McLaren 1min 03.971sec Q3 |
|
2 |
Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1min 04.492sec Q3 |
|
3 |
Oscar Piastri McLaren 1min 04.554sec Q3 |
|
4 |
Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1min 04.582sec Q3 |
|
5 |
George Russell Mercedes 1min 04.763sec Q3 |
|
6 |
Liam Lawson Racing Bulls 1min 04.926sec Q3 |
|
7 |
Max Verstappen Red Bull 1min 04.929sec Q3 |
|
8 |
Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber 1min 05.132sec Q3 |
|
9 |
Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1min 05.276sec Q3 |
|
10 |
Pierre Gasly Alpine 1min 05.649sec Q3 |
|
11 |
Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1min 05.128sec Q2 |
|
12 |
Alex Albon Williams 1min 05.205sec Q2 |
|
13 |
Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls 1min 05.226sec Q2 |
|
14 |
Franco Colapinto Alpine 1min 05.288sec Q2 |
|
15 |
Oliver Bearman Haas 1min 05.312sec Q2 |
|
16 |
Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1min 05.329sec Q1 |
|
17 |
Esteban Ocon Haas 1min 05.364sec Q1 |
|
18 |
Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull 1min 05.369sec Q1 |
|
19 |
Carlos Sainz Williams 1min 05.582sec Q1 |
|
20 |
Nico Hülkenberg Sauber 1min 05.606sec Q1 |
|
