Max Verstappen wins the Qatar Grand Prix after being handed a win to a degree with McLaren making a strategy error and costing themselves a 1-2 and effectively costing Oscar Piastri a decent chance at the driver’s title in the process. Talking of stinking, our 2025 Qatar F1 Grand Prix Result Summary will probably be on the nose.
This 2025 Qatar Grand Prix Result, Laps that Matter summary, Review & Ratings gives you just enough to catch up with. With just a hint of cynicism, bias, opinion and colour. The perfect bite sized review for those who couldn’t be bothered, or don’t have enough time.
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2025 Qatar F1 Grand Prix Result Race Summary
Didn’t see the race live? Don’t have time to watch the whole race? Here’s where we capture the laps where stuff happened. We write these live as we go, sort of like a minute by minute for the football, but marginally more interesting.
Setting the scene – The Championship remains alive after a Sprint Race where Oscar Piastri came alive and overturned his recent on track dip in form with a pole position and win. He took that momentum into Qualifying and secured pole position for the main race too. Lando Norris was third in the Sprint Race, dropping two points to Piastri but gaining one on Max Verstappen. This leaves Max Verstappen 25 points behind Lando Norris, and he must now finish ahead of Norris in the race. He qualified third behind the McLarens, and needs to get in front quick, which could make for an interesting start.
Other notables from Sprint Race / Qualifying was the lack of performance from Ferrari – 13th and 17th in the Sprint Race and 10th and 18th for Qualifying. Also notable was the two rookies showing them how to do it, with Antonelli 5th and Hadjar. Yuki Tsunoda was a surprise 5th in the Sprint Race and a less surprising Q1 exit in Qualifying.
GRID (Starting Order) – PIA NOR VER RUS ANT HAD SAI ALO GAS LEC
Lap 1 – A very short gap between the five red lights going on and off potentially catches out Lando Norris who loses second place to Max Verstappen into turn. Pole sitter Oscar Piastri keeps the lead ahead and clears out quickly. George Russell has a shocker and drops from 4th to 7th, with Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso the big movers in the top ten. Hadjar also drops from 6th to 8th. The worst three starters all came from the dirty side of the grid. Lewis Hamilton’s race has at least started ok, up from 18th to 14th.
Meanwhile out front Oscar Piastri has a 1.3 second lead after one lap.
ORDER – PIA VER NOR ANT SAI ALO RUS HAD GAS LEC
Lap 5 – Oscar Piastri’s lead is out to 2.4 seconds, with Lando Norris another two seconds behind Max Verstappen. This means Piastri will reduce the Championship lead to 12 points and Verstappen to 22 points. Both margins keep Lando Norris in the driver’s seat heading into the last race, so Norris appears to have this in mind so far.
Lap 7 – A Sauber has gone off surrounded by bits of foam and tyre marks. Cue the footage of a slowly moving Alpine of Pierre Gasly who Hulkenberg has been chasing. Replays show it’s a real 50-50 going into turn one. Hulkenberg appears to be far enough ahead around the outside of turn one, but did he turn in too quickly onto Gasly? Let the stewards sort that one out.
They say no further action. Which is probably fair enough.
SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED
Red Bull pit Max Verstappen but the leading McLarens stay out. In fact the majority of the field pit except for Esteban Ocon, and Nico Hulkenberg’s broken Sauber. Have McLaren stuffed up here? Lando Norris on the radio seems to think so. His team say it means the other teams lose flexibility on strategy,
Esteban Ocon receives a five second penalty for moving before the lights at the start, so he comes in to pit for new tyres and a penalty anyway.
ORDER – PIA NOR VER SAI ANT ALO HAD RUS LEC BEA
SAFETY CAR EXITS
Lap 11 – Oscar Piastri bunches them up nicely for the restart and flies off early and it pays dividends giving him a big enough lead into turn one not to be annoyed by anyone. No real action further down the grid for overtaking on the restart, which is mildly disappointing. By the end of the lap Oscar Piastri has 1.2 on Norris, who has 1.9 on Verstappen.
ORDER – PIA NOR VER SAI ANT ALO HAD RUS LEC BEA
Lap 15 – Piastri’s lead to Norris is out to 2.2 seconds with about the same further back to Verstappen in third. A bit closer is the train of cars settling in behind Fernando Alonso in 6th down to almost the back of the field. Towards the back of the pack is Lance Stroll, which isn’t surprising, nor is the stewards note about an investigation of a yellow flag infringement.
Lap 18 – McLaren drivers being told to get moving as they probably won’t have a big enough gap to rejoin ahead of the train of cars. They need to pit by lap 25 as per the rule of tyres not being able to do more than 25 laps for this race, due to potential extreme heat. The heat is on McLaren now after not pitting under the Safety Car. They could hand the race to Max Verstappen. They need Fernado Alonso to go just that little bit slower.
Lap 20 – Oscar Piastri is 3.5 seconds ahead of Lando Norris now, and he has 4.5 seconds on Max Verstappen. Looks like Piastri has 23 seconds on Alonso, so on current pace will be safe in getting out in front of Alonso. Carlos Sainz is 16 seconds behind in fourth, which be even more ideal for Piastri.
Lap 24 – One of the McLarens has to pit this lap, who will it be? Looks like the leader Piastri. It’s a slowish 3.1 second stop, and Piastri rejoins just ahead of Fernando Alonso by about a second or two, which means Lando Norris will likely rejoin in that train.
Lap 25 – Lando Norris pits from the lead, and his stop takes 2.2 seconds, he may need that extra second. It sure does help, he comes out in front of Alonso. McLaren have just dodged a bullet here from not pitting under the Safety Car. Max Verstappen leads now, but wasn’t showing any great pace behind the McLarens. But it is Max Verstappen.
ORDER – VER SAI ANT PIA NOR ALO HAD RUS LEC BEA
Lap 27 – Oscar Piastri sets fastest lap to continue his good run at this track tonight and should catch Kimi Antonelli in a lap or so for third. Lanco Stroll does get a penalty for pit lane speeding – fast in the wrong place – classic Stroll.
Lap 30 – Oscar Piastri sails past Kimi Antonelli into turn one to take third, and he isn’t far away from Carlos Sainz either. Those non McLarens being on much older tyres. But at least Piastri is confident and fast. It has been a long time since he looked this impressive.
Lap 32 – While the McLarens try to deal with Sainz and Antonelli, Max Verstappen is being told to pit. He has a lead of 18 seconds to Sainz, so won’t have enough to keep the lead. He pits on lap 33 and rejoins third, as Sainz, Antonelli, Alonso and everyone behind him pit for new tyres. No real change in order except for Esteban Ocon, and he pits a few laps later and drops down the field.
ORDER – PIA NOR VER SAI ANT OCO ALO HAD RUS LEC
Lap 34 – McLarens now need to get a big enough lead to Max Verstappen to make their mandatory second tyre stop. Piastri has 4.7 to Norris and Norris has 3.2 second to Max Verstappen. Needless to say that isn’t enough, and they have to pit by laps 49/50. Third will probably be enough for Norris in his Championship situation. Piastri needs to win.
Lap 38 – Replays show Lando Norris having a moment and losing a bit of time. Max Verstappen is now within two seconds and catching. No way he can clear the Red Bull for a pit stop now, although third should be sweet and Carloss Sainz is 20 seconds behind Max Verstappen. Further ahead Oscar Piastri has seven second to Lando Norris and just under nine to Verstappen. That’s not going to be enough to keep the lead. Max Verstappen is in the best position to win this race now. One wonders how hard Norris defends second place from Verstappen, it might be better for him if Verstappen wins. A crash suits neither, so presume they will play nice.
Lap 41 – Oscar Piastri has a sliding moment as well out in front. He can’t increase his lead by enough to clear Verstappen. So in effect McLaren have cost Piastri seven point in the Championship battle. Sounds like latter 2025 McLaren.
Lap 42 – Oscar Piastri pits for new hard tyres, rejoins in third. 16.6 second behind Max Verstappen with 14 laps to go. Of course Lando Norris leading could help his team mate by blocking Max Verstappen for as long as possible. Would be nice to see something go Piastri’s way from Lando Norris. At least the Piastri pit stop was a very rapid 1.8 seconds.
Lap 45 – Lando Norris pits. He rejoins fifth behind Sainz and Antonelli. On newer tyres Norris should clear them easy enough, but McLaren have made this race very hard work.
Lap 46 – Replays show Fernando Alonso doing a full 360 spin and rejoining losing only two places. And Hadjar and Russell battling for 6th. Hadjar runs Russell off the road, with Russell being warned about track limits, for previous discretions. Further ahead replay of Norris having a big moment that on another track or another driver would have ended in a spin.
Lap 47 – Piastri is within 14.5 second of Max Verstappen, so catching but not quite fast enough you’d think to get close enough and be fast enough to pass.
ORDER – VER PIA SAI ANT NOR HAD RUS ALO LEC STR
As the Championship stands the gap from Norris to Verstappen will be reduced to 10 points and Piastri’s deficit is 14 points. So in effect, McLaren’s strategy has further opened the door to Max Verstappen stealing the title. One does wonder why they didn’t go conservative with the lead they had.
Lap 51 – Even with DRS down the main straight Lando Norris can’t get past Kimi Antonelli, but it shouldn’t take too much longer. Further ahead Carlos Sainz is complaining of understeer, he is currently trying to get a big enough gap to keep his podium with a looming Norris coming.
Lap 52 – Antonelli stays ahead of Norris again going into turn one. Carlos Sainz is just two seconds further ahead, so third still possible for Norris with five laps left.
Lap 53 – No pass on Antonelli by Norris as the Mercedes edges closer to Sainz. Up front Max Verstappen leads with a gap of just under 12 seconds. Piastri has done well, but not well enough for victory.
Lap 55 – Norris still behind Antonelli and looks a carbon copy of every other lap for the last ten minutes. Close enough, but not quite. Every point could matter in the Championship.
Lap 56 – No pass this time either. One more chance next lap. He doesn’t need it, as Kimi Antonelli slides wide halfway around the lap and Norris takes fourth place and two valuable points.
FINAL LAP – Max Verstappen cruises around the final lap and takes yet another Qatar Grand Prix win, with an assist from McLaren strategy. Oscar Piastri gets within eight seconds in the end, which further highlights how stupid the McLaren strategy was. Carlos Sainz holds on for his second Williams podium. Lando Norris ends up fourth which may just be enough for the Championship.
FINAL ORDER (Across the line) – VER PIA SAI NOR ANT RUS ALO LEC LAW TSU
Here we go through the field and highlight the very best (Great) of the race, and the plodders, the over-ambitious, the out of luck, and simply hopeless (Grape).
These points get added to our Driver of the Season scores. 5 points for a great nomination, and -5 for the worst or grapest driver in the pack. Then it is +2 /-2 for honourable or dishonourable mentions.
THE GREAT-EST – OSCAR PIASTRI
OK, so he didn’t end up with the result he wanted, and deserved, but was fastest from Sprint Qualifying to halfway through the race, he looked dominant. He this kind of weekend badly and his recent downturn in form, although could have done without the end result.
The worry for Oscar Piastri now is, he is behind Max Verstappen in the Championship heading into the final race, and McLaren could try and protect their team winning the driver’s title and ask/demand he help Norris instead of looking after himself. He is kind of screwed. A shame, as he was the fastest driver this weekend.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
MAX VERSTAPPEN – Given the opportunity to win the Qatar Grand Prix due to McLaren strategy, and as ever doesn’t need to be asked twice. Impressive pace in the second half of the race to keep Piastri into second. Helps himself to halving the Championship gap going into the final race.
CARLOS SAINZ – A second Williams podium in a strong second half of the season for Sainz, who is further enhancing his reputation, and is probably happy to be driving a Williams instead of the current Ferrari.
KIMI ANTONELLI – Another solid weekend, building a nice end to the season in his rookie season.
LIAM LAWSON – A couple of points might see him keep his drive for 2026.
YUKI TSUNODA – A point is nice, and decent Sprint Race too, but neither will get him a drive in 2027.
THE GRAPE-EST – McLAREN
The decision not to pit under the Safety Car cost them victory for sure, and probably a 1-2. While that may suit Norris a little, it costs Piastri seven points in the Championship battle and gives Max Verstappen a leg up. A second race of nonsense from McLaren.
Put this into perspective, if McLaren finish 1-2, even with Piastri winning and Norris second, third would have kicked Verstappen out of the Championship battle. Instead, he’s within 12 points and on a roll.
Oscar Piastri’s radio post-race proves he isn’t happy, nor is Lando Norris in the paddock.
DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS
LANDO NORRIS – Underwhelmed a little this weekend as maybe the Championship battle slowed him down a bit. Team strategy didn’t help.
FERRARI – Looked midfield at best.
LEWIS HAMILTON – Looks worse than midfield, and a Q1 exit for the second race in a row.
GEORGE RUSSELL – After a solid Sprint Race, Russell had an underwhelming main race day. Finishing well behind his team mate Antonelli.
NICO HULKENBERG – Lost a couple of points today with a clash with Gasly.
Was it a good race, loads of action, a tense ending, a surprise result or DNF, or just a big, fat, snooze-fest?
We rate the big race itself, so we know which races to go back and watch in the off season or one to simply remember the winner for the post season quiz nights.
PRE RACE ACTION (FP, QUAL, SPRINT, OFF TRACK etc) – 2 / 5
Even with a sprint race, the Qatar Grand Prix is a bit dull. Off track interest relating to Oscar Piastri saying no to helping Lando Norris in the Championship, and Max Verstappen telling him not to as well.
ON TRACK ACTION (RACE) – 2 / 10
There was a certain amount of tension because of the Championship fight, and McLaren’s alternative strategy, but the overtaking was virtually non existent, with trains forming for most of the race. And tension isn’t really action.
ANY SURPRISES? – 2 / 5
The Nico Hulkenberg-Pierre Gasly clash bringing out the Safety Car did bring the race’s biggest surprise. No, not that crash, but McLaren being the only team not to pit for new tyres under the Safety Car.
SEASON IMPORTANCE – 5 / 5
It takes the Championship race to the final race in Abu Dhabi. And Max Verstappen is now closer than Oscar Piastri.
ENDING – 3 / 5
The Lando Norris vs Kimi Antonelli battle was interesting enough, but sadly the battle for first was close enough.
OVERALL RATING – 14 / 30
A box ticked for the F1 season, on a track that is hard to get too excited about.
2025 F1 Season Race Ratings
R1 – Australian Grand Prix – 27/30
R2 – Chinese Grand Prix – 11/30
R3 – Japanese Grand Prix – 18/30
R4 – Bahrain Grand Prix – 19/30
R5 – Saudi Arabia Grand Prix – 17/30
R6 – Miami Grand Prix – 17/30
R7 – Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix – 20/30
R8 – Monaco Grand Prix – 21/30
R9 – Spanish Grand Prix – 15/30
R10 – Canadian Grand Prix – 18/30
R11 – Austrian Grand Prix – 20/30
R12 – British Grand Prix – N/A but was great
R13 – Belgian Grand Prix – 13/30
R14 – Hungarian Grand Prix – 22/30
R15 – Dutch Grand Prix – 22/30
R16 – Italian Grand Prix – 16/30
R17 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix – 20/30
R18 – Singapore Grand Prix – 20/30
R19 – United States Grand Prix – 21/30
R20 – Mexican Grand Prix – 23/30
R21 – Brazilian Grand Prix – 25/30
R22 – Las Vegas Grand Prix – 26/30
2025 F1 Season Preview Gear
F1 2025 SEASON – THINGS TO LOOK FOR AND AVOID
F1 DONKEY AUSTRALIAN GP BOLD PREDICTIONS
