Chinese GP: Russell and Antonelli crush rivals in Sprint Qualifying

George Russell secured pole position for the Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, heading a commanding Mercedes 1–2 ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Russell controlled the session from start to finish, topping every segment of sprint qualifying just as he did earlier in Melbourne.

Mercedes comfortably outpaced rivals McLaren and Ferrari, while Red Bull struggled for performance with Max Verstappen qualifying only eighth.

• Chinese Grand Prix - Sprint Qualifying results

Russell first set the benchmark in Q1 with a 1m33.030s lap, leading the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Antonelli was four tenths behind his team-mate, while the McLarens were nearly eight tenths adrift. Verstappen could manage only 11th in the opening segment and complained about the “horrendous” driveability of his RB22.

Oliver Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto both survived Q1 despite separate gravel excursions at the exit of the final corner.

Tight margins in the midfield

Further back, a lock-up at Turn 11 combined with late improvements from Alpine eliminated Alex Albon along with team-mate Carlos Sainz, both Aston Martins and Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac. Bottas ended the segment almost two seconds slower than Fernando Alonso.

Sergio Perez did not take part in the session due to a fuel system issue – the same problem that forced Bottas to retire in Australia.

Mercedes again asserted control in Q2. Russell immediately went fastest with a 1m32.241s lap, followed by Antonelli on a 1m32.570s, although the Italian was noted for potentially blocking Lando Norris at Turn 1. Apart from Leclerc’s 1m32.602s, no driver came within nine tenths of Russell’s benchmark.

Verstappen narrowly advanced after running wide at the final corner, edging Nico Hülkenberg by just 0.071s. His team-mate Isack Hadjar scraped through as well, only 0.015s ahead of the Audi driver.

Both Audis, both Racing Bulls, Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto were eliminated.

Russell seals pole

Russell laid down a decisive 1m31.520s on his first run in Q3, comfortably ahead of Antonelli and the Ferraris. Most of the remaining drivers waited until the final moments to set their laps.

Antonelli improved by 0.07s on his final attempt, while Leclerc trimmed two tenths off his time, but neither could challenge Russell’s pole. Norris jumped to third ahead of Hamilton and Oscar Piastri.

Pierre Gasly impressed in seventh, ahead of Verstappen and Bearman, while Hadjar completed the top ten.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook