Oscar Piastri has secured his first-ever pole position at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, becoming the 107th driver in Formula 1 history to achieve this milestone. The young Australian’s impressive performance during qualifying has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting race in Shanghai.
On March 22, 2025, during the qualifying session, Piastri clocked a stunning time of 1:30.641, clinching the top spot ahead of George Russell of Mercedes, who will start the race in second place, and his teammate Lando Norris who qualified third. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, will line up beside Norris in fourth, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will form an all-Ferrari row three in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Piastri’s achievement marks a significant breakthrough for McLaren, as the last Australian to claim pole was Daniel Ricciardo back in 2018 at the Mexican Grand Prix. As the excitement unfolded in Shanghai, Piastri expressed his joy, stating, “My first pole position! I’m very, very happy with that Qualifying. I found a lot of pace in Q3 after genuinely struggling in Q1 and Q2. The car just came alive, I came alive, and I’m pumped to be on pole.” His elation reflects the hard work and determination that he and the McLaren team have displayed throughout the race weekend.
Lando Norris, who finished qualifying in third place, congratulated his teammate and acknowledged the effort that went into achieving such a result. “It’s always disappointing not to be on P1 but congratulations to Oscar on his first Grand Prix pole, he deserved it today,” Norris remarked. He also noted, “The car feels much better, and I’ve got a lot more confidence with the set-up changes. We worked hard to make those improvements for Quali.”
Following the qualifying session, Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren, praised both Piastri and Norris: “A strong effort by the team and both drivers in Qualifying to deliver the pace we knew we had in the car. As we expected, we have seen a very high level of competition from other teams once again.” Stella emphasized the need for the team to capitalize on their strong qualifying performance in the race ahead.
The provisional starting grid for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix is as follows:
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 1:30.641
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:30.723
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:30.793
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:30.817
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 1:30.927
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:31.021
7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 1:31.079
8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1:31.103
9. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) - 1:31.638
10. Alexander Albon (Williams) - 1:31.706
11. Esteban Ocon (Haas) - 1:31.625
12. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - 1:31.632
13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) - 1:31.688
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 1:31.773
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 1:31.840
16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 1:31.992
17. Oliver Bearman (Haas) - 1:32.018
18. Jack Doohan (Alpine) - 1:32.092
19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) - 1:32.141
20. Liam Lawson (Red Bull) - 1:32.174
As the teams prepare for the race, numerous elements will play a crucial role, including tire management and race strategy. The anticipation is palpable among fans and teams alike, with many keen to see how the nascent promise of Piastri translates into race results.
