Hamilton and Verstappen will start side by side in the F1 Sprint, setting up a thrilling front-row clash in Shanghai.
After a strong start to the weekend by Lando Norris—topping the only free practice session ahead of Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Lewis Hamilton—it looks like the Sprint Shootout in China is shaping up to be a fierce contest between McLaren and Ferrari.
Conditions at the Shanghai International Circuit are favorable, with dry weather allowing teams to show their full potential. Still, with only one practice session and limited high-speed laps, teams are entering qualifying with more questions than answers.
Behind McLaren and Ferrari, Red Bull’s form remains uncertain. Max Verstappen only ran on medium tires during practice, while Liam Lawson struggled at the back of the field. Mercedes, however, showed signs of pace with both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli looking competitive in the morning.
As for the rest of the grid, the battle appears wide open. Williams, Sauber, Aston Martin, and Racing Bulls all showed flashes of performance during practice.
SQ1 – 12 Minutes, Medium Tires
Drivers wasted no time heading out, given the shorter Sprint Shootout format and mandatory tire rules. Everyone ran on medium compounds in this first segment.
Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto clocked the first time before Yuki Tsunoda and then Max Verstappen took turns at the top, the Dutchman setting a 1:32.329. Isack Hadjar slotted in behind, followed by Pierre Gasly.
Lewis Hamilton went fastest with a 1:32.229. Charles Leclerc was just 0.010s behind his teammate Antonelli, who made a small mistake but still posted the third-best time. Liam Lawson climbed to fifth, and Lando Norris snatched third, only 0.019s off Hamilton.
Oscar Piastri upped the game with a 1:31.723 to lead. Fernando Alonso slotted into second, while George Russell pushed Carlos Sainz into the danger zone. There was drama, too: Russell obstructed Tsunoda and might face investigation, while Lance Stroll interfered with Bearman—also noted by the stewards.
Norris went fastest with a 1:31.396, and Antonelli moved up to third. Sainz recovered with a decent lap, and Hadjar impressed with a strong P5. Hamilton then closed out SQ1 at the top with a 1:31.212.
Eliminated in SQ1: Doohan, Gasly, Ocon, Hülkenberg, Lawson.
SQ2 – 10 Minutes, Medium Tires
Bortoleto made an early error, while Verstappen posted a solid 1:31.521. But once again, Norris raised the bar with a 1:31.174. Antonelli waited for a second prep lap, and Leclerc backed off after a mistake.
Piastri ended up second, just under two-tenths behind Norris. Leclerc eventually posted a time, but it was only good enough for fifth, nearly a second off.
With under two minutes left, only eight drivers had registered lap times. Hadjar went off in Turn 1 and had to abandon his attempt. Tsunoda capitalized on his slipstream to take fourth before being bumped by Stroll, who also set a quick lap.
Hamilton slotted into third, behind the two McLarens. Leclerc managed P5, Alonso grabbed P8, and Bearman slotted in right behind. Sainz couldn’t break into the top ten, and Bortoleto couldn’t improve.
Antonelli jumped to P4, and George Russell surged into second behind Norris.
Eliminated in SQ2: Alonso, Bearman, Sainz, Bortoleto, Hadjar.
SQ3 – 8 Minutes, Soft Tires
The final session was all about timing, with most drivers opting for a single run on soft tires. McLaren and Mercedes were first out of the pits.
Piastri set the early pace with a 1:30.929. Norris followed with a 1:31.393. Antonelli briefly held third, before George Russell squeezed into second between the two McLarens.
Takeaway:
McLaren looks sharp and consistent, Ferrari is close, and Mercedes seems poised to challenge. With Verstappen not showing his full hand yet, the Sprint Shootout remains wide open—and we’re in for a thrilling weekend in Shanghai.
Sprint Qualifying Results
| Pos | Driver | Car | SQ1 Time | SQ2 Time | SQ3 Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:31.212 | 1:31.384 | 1:30.849 |
| 2 | Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:31.916 | 1:31.521 | 1:30.867 |
| 3 | Piastri | McLaren | 1:31.723 | 1:31.362 | 1:30.929 |
| 4 | Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31.518 | 1:31.561 | 1:31.057 |
| 5 | Russell | Mercedes | 1:31.952 | 1:31.346 | 1:31.169 |
| 6 | Norris | McLaren | 1:31.396 | 1:31.174 | 1:31.393 |
| 7 | Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:31.999 | 1:31.475 | 1:31.738 |
| 8 | Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1:32.316 | 1:31.794 | 1:31.773 |
| 9 | Albon | Williams | 1:32.462 | 1:31.539 | 1:31.852 |
| 10 | Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:32.327 | 1:31.742 | 1:31.982 |
| —– | ————- | —————————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 11 | Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:32.121 | 1:31.815 | |
| 12 | Bearman | Haas | 1:32.269 | 1:31.978 | |
| 13 | Sainz | Williams | 1:32.457 | 1:32.325 | |
| 14 | Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:32.539 | 1:32.564 | |
| 15 | Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:32.171 | – | |
| —– | ————- | —————————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 16 | Doohan | Alpine | 1:32.575 | ||
| 17 | Gasly | Alpine | 1:32.640 | ||
| 18 | Ocon | Haas | 1:32.651 | ||
| 19 | Hülkenberg | Sauber | 1:32.675 | ||
| 20 | Lawson | Red Bull | 1:32.729 |
China Sprint: Lewis and Max Set for Front Row Fight China Sprint: Lewis and Max Set for Front Row Fight
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