The grid for the 2025 F1 Qatar GP is set, as we have Oscar Piastri on pole position with Lando Norris alongside him. Just to make things even more interesting, the third contender in the title battle, Max Verstappen, is in P3.
The qualifying session saw the McLaren drivers hold a distinct advantage over the rest of the field, and Verstappen had to drag the lap time out of that Red Bull to place himself in that position.
There’s an outside chance that the F1 title could potentially be decided in the F1 Qatar GP if Lando Norris ends up outscoring both Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen by 2 points over the weekend, and hence there would be an extra intrigue on Sunday.
With that being said, what can we expect from the F1 Qatar GP? Let’s take a look.
#5 The enforced two-stopper is going to make racing interesting
The enforced two-stopper, where every tire can have a maximum of 25-lap stint, is one thing that could potentially make things interesting. It’s not just about the fact that there are going to be three stints in the race, it’s also the fact that there is a certain level of flexibility involved here when it comes to stint lengths.
Unlike the sprint, the race could potentially be a better one, and different strategies could mix things up.
#4 Pierre Gasly drops through the field
Alpine nailed a setup that should work for the team in terms of getting the best possible starting position. While they have been successful in achieving that, the next phase is where things get a bit murky. The higher downforce setup is going to make Alpine an easier car to overtake on the straights.
To add to this, the race pace is slightly suspect and will become a factor during the F1 Qatar GP. The driver potentially dropping away from contention is on the table for Sunday.
#3 No Ferrari in top 5
Charles Leclerc starts the race in P10, while Lewis Hamilton is down in P18. We might see the British driver try something different with the setup, as the car has been a complete mess in the F1 Qatar GP. Even if he does, and even if the strategic variance provided by the two stoppers could make things interesting, making up places is not going to be easy.
Unless we see punctures and stoppages, it’s a safe bet to assume that unless someone just pulls off a strategic masterclass, it’s not going to be easy to make up many places on the grid. A top 5 is a hard sell for Ferrari at this stage.
#2 A Max Verstappen P2 finish is highly likely
Max Verstappen is starting the race in P3 and is in a perfect position to, at the very least, make up a position and jump Lando Norris in the process at the start of the race.
Not only is the Brit starting the race on the dirty side of the track, but there’s also this case of Verstappen being more than willing to put the car in places that’ll make Lando uncomfortable.
Once Verstappen jumps Norris at the start, from that point onwards it’s very straightforward as he manages his race against a Norris in arguably a faster McLaren.
#1 Oscar Piastri wins the F1 Qatar GP
It’s hard to look beyond the optics of the start of the F1 Qatar GP, where Oscar Piastri is looking ahead and almost knows there’s going to be chaos behind him. The driver has been back to his best this weekend and has won everything of significance so far.
The only thing left is winning the F1 Qatar GP, and if he has the right race start and is in the lead into Turn 1, that might be it.
He’s got a decent pace, and whether it is Norris or Verstappen behind him, he will more or less manage everything and bring the car home.
The race weekend has given the vibe of an Oscar Piastri weekend so far, and it doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon, hence we’re predicting another triumph for the Aussie.
Edited by Charanjot Singh Kohli
