Lando Norris lined up third for McLaren, capping a dominant session, while Fernando Alonso took fourth for Aston Martin.
Red Bull saw Yuki Tsunoda surprisingly outpace Max Verstappen for fifth, ending Verstappen’s 29-session streak without being beaten by a teammate.
Lewis Hamilton struggled with car handling, exiting early in 19th and quipping about the nice weather, amid radio tension as Norris accused Verstappen of impeding his lap.
With Norris leading the drivers’ standings and two rounds left, Piastri’s front-row start gives McLaren a strong shot at key points in the 19-lap Sprint.
