Spanish GP qualifying: Piastri gets pole despite teammate’s ‘cheeky’ move on Aussie

Oscar Piastri got the last laugh in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix after his McLaren teammate attempted a brazen move on him.

Oscar Piastri will start the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position after a dominant performance in qualifying set up a tantalising duel with his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

Piastri was fastest by half a second in the final practice session and delivered when it mattered in qualifying, taking pole position by more than two tenths of a second ahead of Norris and Max Verstappen.

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The margin between Piastri and Norris (0.209sec) is the biggest gap between pole position and second so far this season, such was the Australian’s dominance around the track in Barcelona.

It brought him his fourth pole this season and set up the two McLaren men as clear favourites for Sunday’s race — 31 of the 34 Spanish Grands Prix to date having been won by a car starting on the front row.

Piastri now has one more pole positions (four) than Daniel Ricciardo (three) had in his F1 career.

Piastri will be aiming for his fifth victory of the season and to extend his three-point lead in the championship over Norris.

“It’s been a good weekend so far. It didn’t start off in the best way. We were struggling a little last night, but we found some pace and the car has been mega,” said Piastri.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

“I feel like I was able to put in some fast laps as well so thank you to the team for all the hard work. This was a pretty miserable scene 12 months ago so to have turned it around in the best way is a great result.” Piastri was 10th on the grid last year after having a qualifying lap deleted when he ran off into a gravel trap and finished seventh in the race.

There was some drama between the McLaren teammates when Norris tried to get in Piastri’s slipstream to give him a tow for a flying lap in the third qualifying session.

Piastri’s race engineer told him: “Watch for Lando opening close behind”, to which Piastri replied: “Cheeky.”

Piastri slowed to a crawl and moved to the side of the track to try avoid giving Norris a tow early in Q3.

“He almost stopped on the track to avoid giving him any kind of tow.” 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg said on Sky Sports.

“Lando cheekily sorted himself out like that to get himself in position.”

Lando Norris (behind) tried to get a tow from Oscar Piastri. Photo: Fox Sports.

Norris said afterwards: “I tried to get a slipstream from someone, it’s unlucky it was Oscar.

“I mean, I was 10th or something in the queue; I don’t know who I’m going to get a slipstream from, because you’re waiting like two minutes in the pit lane.

“So, yeah. Just coincidence.”

Good lap. Gracias

— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) May 31, 2025

PIASTRI JUST MOVED OUT THE WAY TO NOT GIVE NORRIS A TOW???? 😭😭😭😭😭

— luna 💌 (@F1REAKS) May 31, 2025

Piastri said: “I went out very early for the first run of Q3, and I think it was just coincidence that Lando ended up behind me opening the lap.”

“I was a little bit behind at the start of qualifying and I caught up nicely,” Norris added.

“I know where I lost that time on the final lap, it was just trying a little bit too much and just not being quite tidy enough.

“I’m still happy with second, especially in Barcelona it’s not the end of the world.”

The Aussie was having none of it. Photo: Fox Sports.

Another front row lockout is a strong result for McLaren, who still have by far the fastest car on the grid.

The two McLarens are yet to battle each other in full blown wheel to wheel racing so far this year, with Norris overtaking Piastri with a tyre advantage in Imola the only minor clash on track yet.

“It’s been a good weekend so far. It didn’t start off in the best way. We were struggling a little last night, but we found some pace and the car has been mega,” said Piastri.

“I feel like I was able to put in some fast laps as well so thank you to the team for all the hard work. This was a pretty miserable scene 12 months ago so to have turned it around in the best way is a great result.” Piastri was 10th on the grid last year after having a qualifying lap deleted when he ran off into a gravel trap and finished seventh in the race.

“Oscar drove very well,” said Norris, who pushed hard to take pole in the final qualifying session.

“I think the pace is definitely there, but for just a couple of little mistakes. Oscar has been driving very well all weekend. It’s a good result for the team and an interesting start for tomorrow.

Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen after qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

“Hopefully, it’s an easy race for me. It’s a long run down into turn one, which is normally interesting. We’ve got a lot of quick guys behind us and we won’t count them out. It’s a good result for today.”

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes.

Verstappen suggested there could be fireworks at the opening corner of Sunday night’s race as the Red Bull superstar fights the two McLarens for the championship

“I think it’s time to shine at Turn 1, make it three wide for the pictures, why not,” he laughed.

Spanish Grand Prix starting grid

Front row Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren), Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)

2nd row Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull), George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

3rd row Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari), Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes)

4th row Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari), Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)

5th row Isack Hadjar (FRA/RB), Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

6th row Alex Albon (THA/Williams), Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Sauber)

7th row Liam Lawson (NZL/RB), Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)

8th row Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas), Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Sauber)

9th row Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas), Carlos Sainz (ESP/Williams)

10th row Franco Colapinto (ARG/Alpine), Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Red Bull)

Originally published as Spanish GP qualifying: Piastri gets pole despite teammate’s ‘cheeky’ move on Aussie