At the Shanghai International Circuit, McLaren driver Lando Norris took pole position in the rain for the sprint race of the Chinese GP. In a very exciting battle, Norris took the lead in very treacherous circumstances ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen had to settle for the fourth fastest time.
SQ1 GREEN LIGHT @ZhouGuanyu24 leads out the drivers #F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/we3gOkuFCF
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
After just one practice session, the drivers immediately had to work hard during qualifying for the sprint race. Not ideal preparation for the Shanghai International Circuit, a circuit where no F1 cars had driven for five years. It only made the challenge for the riders even greater.
Reports of spots of rain
Definitely not sweat this time #F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/eacNPIjjSH
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
There was also a chance of rain and that ensured that there was a lot of action on the track from the start of the first part of the sprint qualifying. Halfway through SQ1 there were also some raindrops. Remarkably, at the end of SQ1 another fire broke out right next to the circuit, which also happened during the only practice session.
solution to a problem i guess! https://t.co/vjDac1cgZr pic.twitter.com/NWVdTAbQef
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) April 19, 2024
Ultimately, there were no surprises at the end of SQ1. Sergio Perez set the fastest time, ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
ELIMINATED SQ1
Gasly
Ocon
Albon
Tsunoda
Sargeant #F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/SyLMFC6tut— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
Due to the fire at the end of SQ1, the second part of the sprint qualifying started a little later. At the same time, threatening rain clouds were approaching the circuit, which resulted in many drivers lining up at the end of the pit lane several minutes before the start of SQ2.
SQ2 GREEN LIGHT
We are down to 15 drivers and they’re all coming out on track at once!
The rain is expected to intensify soon #F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/B09xOEnEFt
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
Setting a lap time in SQ2 as quickly as possible was indeed the assignment. Max Verstappen was one tenth faster in SQ2 than Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. The biggest surprise was the elimination of George Russell, who finished eleventh. Russell tried to improve his lap time at the end of the session, but due to the rain he had no choice but to simply return to the pit lane.
Zhou makes it into SQ3…
And the home crowd goes wild #F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/hsTzYTocq2
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
The home crowd was very happy because after Guanyu Zhou had narrowly managed to advance to the second part in SQ1, the Chinese managed to advance to SQ3 with a tenth fastest time. The cheering in the stands was deafening.
SQ3 GREEN LIGHT
Conditions are officially wet now
This could get pretty wild #F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/gaI9F778O5
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
Meanwhile, the Shanghai International Circuit was so wet due to the rain that SQ3, the part in which the battle for pole position for the sprint race was fought, had to be started on intermediate tires. It promised to be an exciting battle to become this ‘mini-pole’.
Inters bolted on across the board but no one can find any grip, including Leclerc and Verstappen! #F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/Zameisw0lS
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
At the start of SQ3 the circuit was very wet, rain combined with a new asphalt layer, which is not a good combination and we saw many drivers make mistakes while looking for grip on the track. We had a sensational battle for pole position for the sprint race.
That’s right, @LandoNorris! #F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/sQP0g815mU
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, they were all at the top at one point, but in the end it was Lando Norris who sensationally managed to take pole position for the sprint race in the McLaren F1 car, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso who completed the top three. Max Verstappen had to settle for the fourth fastest time.