'We need to review': Piastri qualifies seventh despite fast start in Barcelona

Oscar Piastri will start the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix from seventh place after a disappointing end to his qualifying session. The Australian driver had been fastest after two laps during the final run, but lost significant time in the last sector. "It was a good lap until the last sector," Piastri stated. "It was incredibly tight today, with such a small gap from third down to us in P7. We lost more than expected in the final sector, so we need to review why because the lap up to then felt good."

Pole position went to Mercedes driver George Russell, who lapped 0.064 seconds faster than teammate Lewis Hamilton. This marks Russell's third pole of the season and his 100th Grand Prix for Mercedes. "Nice to feel in the groove again," Russell said over the team radio. "It's been a great weekend so far. I feel like my old self again where every lap I'm doing the job, always fighting in those top positions."

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It was a good lap until the last sector. It was incredibly tight today, with such a small gap from third down to us in P7. We lost more than expected in the final sector, so we need to review why because the lap up to then felt good.

The session was disrupted when Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed into the barrier after an unusual snap at turn four. This incident allowed the Mercedes pair, along with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and McLaren's Lando Norris, to improve their times. Kimi Antonelli qualified third, ahead of Norris in fourth.

Fernando Alonso had a difficult qualifying, ending with the slowest time in his Aston Martin. The 44-year-old former champion will start from last place, indicating this will likely be his final race in Barcelona. The two Cadillacs also failed to advance from the first qualifying session.

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Nice to feel in the groove again. It's been a great weekend so far. I feel like my old self again where every lap I'm doing the job, always fighting in those top positions.