Max Verstappen claimed a fifth consecutive Pole Position in Shanghai, giving Red Bull their 100th F1 pole. The Dutchman began to flex his muscles towards the end of Q2, with the gap from the others increasing lap after lap. The RB20 once proved capable of performing at a wide operating window. Ferrari, meanwhile, struggled in this department. Poor tyre preparation will complicate their Chinese GP. Fernando Alonso did excellently to claim third position, confirming the AMR24’s strong performance in Qualifying.
Q1
After five years of waiting, qualifying is finally underway to set the Chinese GP grid. Unlike the Sprint Shootout, most drivers obviously went out on softs. Carlos Sainz was the only one on track with mediums. In the first run, the best time was that of Lando Norris in 1.34.842 – ahead of Sainz, Piastri, Alonso, Verstappen and a great Valtteri Bottas. At the end of Q1, Max Verstappen had the best time of 1:347.42, ahead of Leclerc by just 55 thousandths.
Lewis Hamilton’s elimination was the first surprise of the session. Sergio Perez narrowly avoided the same fate.
Also Eliminated were: Zhou, Magnussen, Hamilton, Tsunoda and Sargeant. Alpine should be pleased with their progression.
Q2
All fifteen drivers went out on new tyres – with the exception of Leclerc, who went on used tyres. The first run saw Max Verstappen make an important breakthrough, setting a time of 1:33.946, giving half a second to Norris and seven-tenths to Piastri.
Halfway through the session, Carlos Sainz hit the barriers as he exited the final corner. He only damaged the front wing but still caused a brief red flag. After several minutes of waiting, we return to the track with just six and a half minutes to go. The two Ferraris take to the track with a new set of tyres and place themselves in third position with Sainz and fourth with Leclerc, respectively.
Excellent performance from Bottas’ Sauber and also from Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas, who are in tenth and ninth position respectively. Eliminated in Q2: Stroll, Ricciardo, Ocon, Albon and Gasly .
Q3
The promo run in the last part of the session sees all the drivers out on new tyres, with the exception of Valtteri Bottas. Max Verstappen scored provisional pole in 1:33.977, putting himself ahead of a crazy Fernando Alonso by around four tenths. Subsequently, Perez, Norris, Piastri, Sainz and Leclerc were in seventh position. Both Ferrari drivers with a small error in the first sector.
The last attempt sees Max Verstappen improve his time by around three tenths, signing yet another pole of the season in 1:33.660 ahead of Sergio Perez for a Red Bull front row and then, third, Fernando Alonso. Fourth and fifth position for the two McLarens of Norris and Piastri.
There is still disappointment at Ferrari which is positioned in sixth place with Charles Leclerc and seventh with Carlos Sainz. Eighth position for George Russell’s Mercedes, ahead of Hulkenberg and Bottas.
