F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying updates in Shanghai as Max Verstappen claims Red Bull’s 100th pole
Formula 1 updates from the Shanghai International Circuit as China hosts the first sprint weekend of the season
Lewis Hamilton’s troubled start to the new season took another desperate twist on Saturday after he qualified a lowly 18th for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Hamilton earlier in the day had led the sprint race in Shanghai for eight laps before he had to settle for runner-up after he was overtaken by eventual winner Max Verstappen.
But less than four hours after Hamilton’s drive to second place - a result he described as his “best in a long time” - the 39-year-old was brought crashing back down to earth when he was eliminated in the opening phase of qualifying for Sunday’s main event.
The seven-time world champion locked up at the penultimate corner on his speediest lap, and he finished in the Q1 knockout zone, leaving only RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Williams’ Logan Sargeant behind him on the grid.
Verstappen beat Hamilton by an impressive 13 seconds in Saturday’s sprint and he raced to a perhaps predictable pole position.
The Dutch driver, who is on course to take his fourth consecutive world championship, saw off team-mate Sergio Perez as Red Bull secured a front-row lockout. It also marked Red Bull’s 100th pole in F1.
Verstappen finished 0.322 seconds clear of Perez, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso third. Lando Norris, who dropped from pole to finish sixth in the sprint race, qualified fourth ahead of Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren.
Charles Leclerc and Sainz finished sixth and seventh respectively for Ferrari, while George Russell could manage only eighth on a poor afternoon for the Silver Arrows.
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Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
Max Verstappen attempts a quick lap and is wrestling heavily with the car. Verstappen skids off track at turn six during the fast lap. This is very tricky now...
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
Crash! Charles Leclerc is sent spinning into the gravel and clatters into the tyre wall. He manages to get the car moving again but the front wing looks damaged.
The track is slippery now as Fernando Alonso has been noted for a pit lane incident.
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
Here we go.
There’s still plenty of cheers for Zhou Guanyu as he heads onto the track from the Chinese fans. How high up the leaderboard can he finish?
The rain and the conditions may just play into the favour of the Ferraris who are trying to get ahead of the Red Bulls...
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
The conditions are now damp with rain falling steadily. The cars all want to get out their quickly with the final qualifying session only eight minutes long.
All of the cars have switched to intermediate tyres as well. How will the grid look for the sprint race?
We’re about to find out...
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
There’s a whole new situation developing for SQ3. The track is now wet, none of the drivers have prepared for it and they must go as fast as possible to give themselves the best opportunity for tomorrow’s sprint race.
Max Verstappen was quickest in SQ2, will he finish on pole for the sprint race?
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
Russell is eliminated! The rain is coming down quite heavily now as Zhou Guanyu sneaks into the top 10 and the watching crowd erupts in applause for their home town hero.
Here’s who went out:
11) George Russell
12) Kevin Magnussen
13) Nico Hulkenberg
14) Daniel Ricciardo
15) Lance Stroll
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
The rain is starting to get heavier. George Russell is in 11th and needs to set a quicker time to get through. He’s battling with the home favourite Zhou Guanyu who is still out on track as well.
The track has just been declared wet and Russell is slowing down massively. He’s going to be eliminated in this session!
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
Zhou Guanyu will be pleased with his time as he flies in above Daniel Ricciardo, both Haas cars, Lance Stroll and even George Russell.
As it stands he’s making it into the final qualifying session. There’s four minutes to go...
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
Lando Norris is setting the fastest time in SQ2. He’s through the first two sectors in record time (for this weekend) ans looks set to top the leaderboard...
... yes! Norris crosses the line in 1:36.047. It’s three tenths better than his SQ1 time. His teammate, Oscar Piastri is even quicker as he follows Norris over the line.
Both McLaren’s look good.
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE
We’re back on track!
The drivers head onto the circuit for their out laps. Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton are staying in the garages for the time being.
They’re banking on the rain coming later in the session and are prefering to keep their tyres warm before attempting a quick run.
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