F1 2025 Qatar Grand Prix Sprint Race starting grid with penalties ap…read more
The 2025 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix weekend officially kicks off today, Saturday, November 29, with the highly anticipated Sprint Race at the Lusail International Circuit. With the championship picture tighter than ever and only a handful of points separating the contenders, the confirmed Sprint Race grid—complete with all penalties applied—sets the stage for a potentially decisive showdown in the title battle.
This weekend’s schedule places the 23-lap Sprint as the first competitive session, followed later in the evening by qualifying for Sunday’s main Grand Prix. With both sessions taking place on the same day, teams and drivers face intense pressure to strike the perfect balance between aggression, strategy, and risk management.
Friday’s action proved crucial, especially for Oscar Piastri, whose championship hopes have been gradually slipping away over recent races. However, the McLaren driver delivered under pressure by securing pole position for the Sprint. His performance edged out Mercedes’ George Russell, who lines up second, while Piastri’s title rivals—Lando Norris and Max Verstappen—start further back in what could be a defining moment in this season’s fight.
Lando Norris, who enters the weekend with a real possibility of clinching the world championship, will begin the Sprint from third on the grid. The McLaren star has been the most consistent contender in recent rounds, but starting behind his own teammate means he must strike the balance between protecting his championship chances and not compromising McLaren’s overall race plan.
Behind the front-row pair, Fernando Alonso continues to show strong form in his Aston Martin, securing fourth place. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda lines up fifth after outqualifying his teammate Max Verstappen, who starts only sixth. For Verstappen, a four-time world champion, this position puts him in a challenging spot as he attempts to stay in contention for another title.
With just eight Sprint points available for the winner, the stakes are extremely high. Currently, only 24 points separate Norris from the duo of Piastri and Verstappen, who sit tied in the standings. That means even a small swing in Sprint results could dramatically alter the championship landscape heading into Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Below is the full confirmed Sprint Race starting grid for the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix:
F1 2025 Qatar GP – Sprint Race Starting Grid (with penalties applied):
1. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
2. George Russell – Mercedes
3. Lando Norris – McLaren
4. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
5. Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull
6. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
7. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
8. Carlos Sainz – Williams
9. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
10. Alex Albon – Williams
11. Isack Hadjar – RB
12. Oliver Bearman – Haas
13. Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber
14. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber
15. Esteban Ocon – Haas
16. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
17. Liam Lawson – RB
18. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
19. Pierre Gasly – Alpine
20. Franco Colapinto – Alpine
As fans around the world prepare to tune in, the Sprint begins at 5:00 PM local time (AST) in Qatar. Because Formula 1 has a global audience, the start time differs across regions. For viewers in Europe, the race begins in the early afternoon, while fans in the United States will need to wake up early to catch the action live. The session will air at 2 PM in the UK (GMT), 3 PM across Central Europe (CET), and 9 AM Eastern Time (ET) in the United States. Australian fans will watch the Sprint in the early hours of Sunday, depending on their region.
Selected Sprint Start Times:
– UK (GMT): 2 PM
– USA (ET): 9 AM
– South Africa (SAST): 4 PM
– India (IST): 7:30 PM
– China / Singapore: 10 PM
– Japan (JST): 11 PM
– Australia (AET): 1 AM (Sunday)
How to Watch the Sprint Live
Broadcast rights vary across countries, and fans will need to tune in through their region’s official F1 broadcasters. In the UK, Sky Sports holds exclusive F1 rights, while ESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise the Sprint in the United States. Countries such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany will cover the event through networks like Sky Italia, Viaplay, DAZN, and RTL. Fans in the Middle East and much of Africa can watch via beIN SPORTS, while SuperSport handles coverage across other African nations.
With the championship still wide open, the Qatar GP Sprint Race promises to deliver high drama, intense battles, and potentially season-defining moments as drivers fight for every point ahead of the final rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
