Ferrari endured another punishing weekend in Qatar, with Lewis Hamilton eliminated in Q1 again and Charles Leclerc labelling the SF 25’s pace as “zero performance” after a difficult sprint and qualifying session.
Max Verstappen qualified third in Qatar and says McLaren’s speed is so strong that matching their pace would require “a shortcut.” He must finish ahead of Lando Norris to keep the title race alive.
Max Verstappen finished sixth in sprint qualifying at Losail after severe bouncing and persistent understeer left the RB21 beyond his control. Yuki Tsunoda beat him for the first time in a qualifying format, adding pressure before the sprint.
Four cars drop to the pit lane, Tsunoda starts ahead of Verstappen, and teams lean toward a medium-tyre sprint as clear skies set the tone for the night race.
Oscar Piastri topped the only practice session in Qatar, while Red Bull failed to extract performance from the soft tyres. Max Verstappen placed sixth and Yuki Tsunoda fell to thirteenth after traffic and poor sector one execution.
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin does not need more senior figures despite speculation around Christian Horner. His comments reflect trust in the current leadership and concern that Adrian Newey must be allowed to focus on the work that actually moves performance forward.
Yuki Tsunoda heads into the Qatar Grand Prix with his future at Red Bull still uncertain, admitting he has “no plan B” and hinting that “most people probably know” where things stand. With Red Bull expected to finalise its 2026 line-up after the weekend, Qatar may be Tsunoda’s final chance to secure his seat.
Max Verstappen says he is “all in” for the final stretch of the 2025 season as he aims to overturn Lando Norris’s 24-point lead and claim a fifth straight F1 title. With 58 points remaining, the Red Bull driver is prepared for an “all-out battle” after a strong late-season comeback.
