Adjusted Starting Grid Released for the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix After Penalties Applied
The FIA has officially confirmed the provisional starting order for Sunday’s eagerly anticipated 2025 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit. With qualifying and the sprint sessions wrapped up, fans now have a clear picture of how the grid will line up for what promises to be one of the most consequential races of the season.
Oscar Piastri continued his remarkable form in Qatar, completing a rare double by taking pole position in both the sprint and main qualifying sessions. The Australian driver didn’t just snatch pole—he backed it up with a dominant victory in the sprint race, reinforcing his status as one of the standout performers of the season. For Piastri, Sunday’s race is make-or-break; he must finish ahead of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris to keep his championship ambitions alive. The McLaren pair will start on the front row together, with Norris locking out second place after a strong but slightly less commanding weekend so far.
Behind them, Max Verstappen will be starting from third. While he was unable to match the pace of the McLarens in qualifying, the Red Bull driver remains a major threat once the lights go out. Known for his aggression and precision during race starts, Verstappen will be eyeing an opportunity to challenge both McLaren drivers into Turn 1. The opening lap is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic of the season, given the stakes and the strength of the drivers lining up in the top five.
George Russell continues to deliver consistent results for Mercedes and will line up fourth, ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, who secured an impressive fifth place. The Italian rookie has been making waves throughout his debut season, and starting from the third row offers him a strong chance to score crucial points for Mercedes. Isack Hadjar, driving for Racing Bulls, put in one of the standout performances of qualifying, earning a well-deserved sixth place on the grid.
Carlos Sainz will start seventh for Williams, continuing his steady integration into the team following his switch from Ferrari. Fernando Alonso, with his trademark determination and experience, managed to secure eighth for Aston Martin, adding more excitement to the midfield battle. Pierre Gasly placed his Alpine in ninth position, while Charles Leclerc endured a difficult qualifying session and will start down in tenth for Ferrari—far from the front-running results he would have hoped for.
The midfield continues with Nico Hulkenberg in 11th for Kick Sauber, followed by Liam Lawson in 12th for Racing Bulls and Oliver Bearman in 13th for Haas. Alexander Albon will begin the race from 14th for Williams, and Yuki Tsunoda, facing a challenging weekend, starts in 15th for Red Bull.
Esteban Ocon lines up 16th for Haas, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will start a disappointing 17th for Ferrari. Hamilton’s struggles have been noticeable throughout the weekend, and he faces an uphill battle on Sunday. Lance Stroll starts 18th for Aston Martin, with Gabriel Bortoleto in 19th for Kick Sauber. Bortoleto’s position reflects a five-place grid penalty imposed for causing a collision at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Franco Colapinto rounds out the grid in 20th for Alpine.
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2025 Qatar Grand Prix Race Time
Lights out for the main race is scheduled for 7:00 pm local time in Qatar (AST) on Sunday, November 30, 2025. Given the international audience Formula 1 attracts, the race time has been converted to various time zones to help fans around the world tune in live. For viewers in the United Kingdom, the race will begin at 4:00 pm, while Central European viewers can catch it at 5:00 pm. In the United States, start times vary from 11:00 am Eastern to 8:00 am Pacific.
Brazilian fans will watch the race at 1:00 pm, while audiences in Australia will have to stay up late—or wake up early—with times ranging from midnight to 3:00 am depending on the region. Fans in Japan will see the race begin at 1:00 am on Monday, while those in South Africa and Egypt will tune in at 6:00 pm. Countries such as China and Singapore will watch the race at midnight, while India’s start time is set for 9:30 pm. Turkey shares the same race time as Qatar at 7:00 pm, and viewers in the UAE will see the race begin at 8:00 pm.
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How to Watch the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix Live
Formula 1’s global broadcast network remains one of the most extensive in the world, with fans able to watch the race live depending on their region. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the full race weekend on Sky Sports, while fans in the United States have coverage available on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Italian fans can tune in via Sky Italia, and Dutch viewers have access to Viaplay and Viaplay Xtra.
China’s coverage spans several major broadcasters including CCTV, Shanghai TV, Guangdong Television, and Tencent, while fans in Japan can watch on Fuji TV or DAZN. Australia offers multiple options through Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo, and Network Ten. In Spain, DAZN F1 and Mediaset provide coverage, while Canadian fans can watch via CTV, RDS, TSN, and Noovo.
Germany’s broadcasters include Sky Deutschland and RTL, while France’s coverage continues through Canal+. Viewers in Belgium, Austria, and Luxembourg benefit from free-to-air coverage via RTBF, ORF, and RTL.lu respectively, offering cost-free access to live F1 races throughout the 2025 season.
In the Middle East and Turkey, beIN Sports holds the broadcasting rights, and African fans can watch through SuperSport. Latin America’s coverage is carried by ESPN.
F1TV Pro also continues to provide comprehensive digital coverage for fans in eligible territories, offering onboard cameras, team radios, real-time data, and full race replays.
