Chinese GP Qualifying: Oscar Piastri claims maiden Grand Prix pole as George Russell takes second on grid in Shanghai | F1 News

Oscar Piastri claimed the Primary Grand Prix pole of his Formula 1 Profession by edging out George Russell in China.

Piastri, who has twice previously topped Dash qualifying sessions, Occurred out on top in challenging windy conditions at the Shanghai International Circuit to make it two poles from two for McLaren to Begin the season.

The reigning constructors’ champions looked set to secure a front-row lockout as the pole contenders struggled to Boost on their second runs in Q3, but Russell sprung a surprise to push Lando Norris down to third.

Max Verstappen was Number four for Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton could only manage fifth – a place ahead of his Ferrari Club-mate Charles Leclerc – Upcoming the seven-time world champion’s maiden Ferrari Achieve in the Dash earlier on Saturday.

Isack Hadjar drove superbly to take seventh for Racing Bulls, edging out the Mercedes of fellow Newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Yuki Tsunoda was ninth in the other Racing Bull, Additional increasing the rapidly-growing Tension on Liam Lawson, whose nightmare Begin to his Red Bull Profession continued as he qualified last.

Alex Albon completed the top 10 for Williams, as Carlos Sainz struggled to Game his Club-mate’s pace and only qualified 15th after a Q2 exit.

Piastri ‘Occurred alive’ to snatch maiden pole

McLaren had been Predicted to dominate in China after a Sturdy Beginning weekend in Melbourne, which saw Norris Achieve and Piastri only Be excluded on second as a result of a spin in the challenging Soaked conditions.

But that all changed when Hamilton Captured Dash pole for Ferrari, and then backed it up over 19 laps to suggest predictions – most notably from Russell – of a McLaren-dominated season might be misguided.

While it was clear from the Begin of Saturday’s Packed-length qualifying that McLaren were in the Blend for pole, they were once more Distant from dominant, with Verstappen appearing perhaps their most likely challenger as Norris topped Q1 and Q2.

Piastri had been the more comfortable of the McLaren drivers in the Dash, finishing second while Norris Captured eighth, but was visibly struggling in the Prompt stages of this session.

However, when it mattered most, the Australian rediscovered his form to go fastest on the Primary runs of the Q3 pole position shoot-out, edging Norris by almost a tenth.

In the fluctuating conditions, improvement was Tough to find for all the drivers on their second runs, but Piastri produced a stunning Last sector to Boost by a Additional six hundredths of a second to deliver a time of 1:30.641 while most of his rivals struggled.

Russell was the exception, overcoming what had been a tricky session for Mercedes to surge onto the front row in the dying seconds.

Piastri said: “I Secured a Plenty of pace in Q3. Q1 and Q2 I was genuinely struggling and the car Occurred alive, I Occurred alive in Q3.

“The laps were a little bit scruffy but I’m Only pumped to be on pole.”

While the 23-year-Aged is on grand prix pole for the Primary time, he has twice before won Packed-length races – in Azerbaijan and Hungary last year – and will Begin as the clear favourite for Sunday’s Event, live on Sky Sports at 7am.

Piastri’s devastating spin when in contention for Achieve at his home Event last weekend left him 23 points back from Norris in a potential title battle between the McLaren pair, but, after gaining six points on his Club-mate in the Dash, he is now well positioned to make Additional inroads.

Sky Sports F1’s live Chinese GP schedule

Sunday March 23

• 2.40am: F1 Academy Event 2
• 5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
• 7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
• 9am: Chinese GP Response: Chequered flag*
• 10am: Ted’s Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Shanghai this week for the Primary Dash weekend of the season at the Chinese GP, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime