Oscar Piastri secured his maiden pole position in Formula 1 with a lap record at the Chinese Grand Prix as George Russell denied McLaren another front-row lockout.
Piastri pumped in a 1:30.641s to achieve a Grand Prix pole at long last, but McLaren missed out on a 1-2 with Russell delivering a storming lap to drop Norris to third.
There were numerous drivers who had struggled in the Sprint that wished to make amends – including Jack Doohan, who had collided with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
However, the Australian’s opening attempt in Q1 was curtailed when he spun exiting Turn 9, prompting him to return to the pits, as his compatriot set the fastest time.
Piastri posted a 1:31.590s to go a tenth quicker than Sprint winner Lewis Hamilton, but McLaren team-mate Norris ran wide at Turn 9 and had his lap time invalidated.
Likewise, Charles Leclerc was also experiencing more trouble around the Shanghai International Circuit as he languished in ninth place with several drivers still to run.
Max Verstappen usurped Piastri’s time with a 1:31.424s, though Liam Lawson in the sister Red Bull lapped a second slower than the Dutchman to be in the drop zone.
Lawson’s miserable run continues
Lawson was in the bottom five along with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes rookie who had encountered a premature exit on his debut in Melbourne last weekend.
However, Antonelli soon improved to go third. Leclerc caught the kerb navigating the opening corners and that cost him as his second lap left him down in 12th place.
Norris managed to string together the best first sector time, but he was unable to maintain that pace as he ended up five-tenths down on Verstappen’s Q1 benchmark.
Leclerc ensured he would advance through to Q2 with the second fastest time until the Racing Bulls pair and then Norris also improved to bump him down the charts.
Lawson’s miserable beginning to his Red Bull career continued, though, as he was slowest once more, resigning him to a third consecutive Q1 elimination in the RB21.
Alpine also experienced more despair as both drivers came up short in progressing to Q2, while Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Sauber’s Bortoleto also didn’t make the cut.
Sainz among Q2 exits
There was a queue in the pitlane as the 15-minute Q2 session started, which still comprised the one remaining Red Bull in Verstappen despite Norris beating his time.
Russell placed down the initial marker in the second segment, but that would not last long as Piastri and then Norris in the two McLaren cars lowered the benchmark.
Verstappen slotted into third behind the two McLarens, but Ferrari’s speed was not as convincing as Hamilton was seventh, while Leclerc languished in ninth position.
Going into the decisive runs in Q2, Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon, Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz were the five individuals who required an improved lap.
Antonelli didn’t better his time and remained in ninth, but that was good enough to reach Q3 as those behind him couldn’t set the laps needed to break into the top 10.
Alex Albon was relieved about that as he logged a prized place in the pole position shootout, but team-mate Carlos Sainz clocked the slowest lap and was eliminated.
Alongside the Spaniard, Ocon’s Haas, Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber and the Aston Martin drivers – Alonso edging team-mate Lance Stroll – wouldn’t be participating in Q3.
Piastri edges out Norris, Russell thwarts McLaren
Norris consolidated McLaren’s tag as the team to beat over a single lap with his table-topping Q2 time, although team-mate Piastri was poised to provide a challenge.
That was realised on the opening attempts as Piastri lapped 0.090s quicker than Norris to take provisional pole, with Verstappen beating the Ferraris to third position.
Russell had conducted two warm-up laps and that paid dividends as he split the two Ferraris, but there was still one lap to go to determine the grid for the main event.
Both Verstappen and Norris lapped quick in the first section, but both dropped time through the middle sector and the McLaren driver elected to abandon his attempt.
However, Piastri managed to improve to guarantee he would claim his debut pole position, with Russell producing a sublime lap at the death to get onto the front row.
That slipped Norris to the second row in third position, with Verstappen and Hamilton rounding out the top five. Leclerc was a tenth back in the second Ferrari in sixth.
The Racing Bulls had showcased an encouraging pace throughout the weekend, culminating in Hadjar beating Antonelli and his team-mate Tsunoda to seventh place.
READ MORE – F1 2025 Chinese Grand Prix – Qualifying Results
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