26 consecutive poles (and counting)

Keen F1 statisticians will remember that the last non-Mercedes pole position stretched back to the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix held 12 months ago, with Felipe Massa setting the fastest time in qualifying.

Team-mate Valtteri Bottas even pipped Nico Rosberg to make it an all-Williams front row, while Lewis Hamilton’s Q3 flyer was thwarted when the Briton did not respect track limits in the final corner.

But given that the Grove-based squad uses Mercedes power, the German manufacturer enjoys a perfect Saturday record since the new hybrid units were introduced at the start of the 2014 campaign.

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Wolff reveals where Mercedes is beating its rivals in Shanghai

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff made no effort to hide his satisfaction after Sprint qualifying…

1 hour ago

Chinese GP: Friday's action in pictures

F1 fans on Shanghai witnessed another commanding performance from Mercedes in Friday’s Sprint qualifying, with…

3 hours ago

Leclerc rages at Ferrari power loss in Shanghai Sprint qualifying

Charles Leclerc did not hide his anger after sprint qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix,…

4 hours ago

‘No grip, no balance’: Verstappen calls Red Bull’s Friday ‘a disaster’

Max Verstappen did not bother to sugarcoat his performance after sprint qualifying for the Chinese…

5 hours ago

Piastri notes McLaren progress but Mercedes ‘pretty impressive’

There was a sense of bafflement lingering in the Shanghai paddock after Sprint qualifying for…

5 hours ago

Briatore confirms Mercedes interest in Alpine stake

Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Mercedes is among several parties interested in buying a minority…

6 hours ago