Full extent of Yuki Tsunoda shocker revealed as key Lando Norris F1 title stat highlighted

Lando Norris secured the best average qualifying result of the season on his way to a maiden F1 drivers’ title, while Yuki Tsunoda suffered a shocker compared to team-mate Max Verstappen.

Across the 24 grands prix, Norris managed an average qualifying position of 2.96, making him the only driver below a 3.0 average.

With overtaking having been difficult, Norris’ supreme qualifying performances proved to be a huge factor in his defeat of Oscar Piastri and Verstappen in the championship.

Piastri and Verstappen recorded the second-and third-best average qualifying positions, at 3.04 and 3.5 respectively. Fourth and fifth were occupied by George Russell and Charles Leclerc, although both were comfortably adrift of the top three.

In 2025, there was a significant gap between the top five in qualifying and the rest of the field. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli had the sixth-best average qualifying result, although at 8.58 it was over three positions worse than Leclerc in fifth.

Antonelli finished ahead of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, whose three consecutive Q1 exits at the end of the season dropped his average qualifying position to a poor 9.04.

The top 10 was completed by Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, and Carlos Sainz, despite the Williams driver having endured a poor first half of the year at the Grove-based outfit.

Tsunoda, who has been dropped by Red Bull to a reserve and test driver role for 2026, endured a shocking qualifying campaign across the season.

The Japanese driver recorded the 12th-best average qualifying position with an abysmal figure of 12.58 — a full nine positions worse than Verstappen. It is an unacceptable statistic for any Red Bull driver and highlights a possible reason behind Hadjar’s promotion.

The worst average qualifying result of the season belonged to Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, with a score of 16.94 — almost a full position worse than Lance Stroll in 19th.

Check out the average qualifying results below!