Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying Report: Antonelli makes history at China as the youngest pole sitter

Q1


Piastri set the early benchmark from Hulkenberg, Bortoleto, Hadjar and Norris in the top 5. Russell and Antonelli waited until the clock ticked down a bit before getting their laps in. Hamilton, Verstappen and Hadjar started on the mediums before Hamilton had a spin. Russell and Antonelli then set the times up at the top for a 1-2. Alonso went P17 as the clock ticked to 7 minutes 30 seconds remaining. Hamilton manages P3 as both Williams, Aston and Cadillac were the bottom 3 in the dropzone as 6 minutes remained. Lindblad then had to box as they had an issue. As drivers like Hamilton, Norris and Gasly crossed the line, no one could dethrone the silver arrows until Leclerc went ahead by about 1 second.

Lindblad managed to get out onto the track with around 3 minutes remaining as the final laps came in with Albon moving up to P16, Hadjar up to P7, Verstappen P4, Sainz P14, Lindblad P11, Stroll and Alonso remain P21 and P19 respectfullt, Bortoleto up to P7 and Bottas remains P20.

Out in Q1:
Sainz
Albon
Alonso
Bottas
Stroll
Perez

Q2

Q2 got underway and Bortoleto and Hadjar were marked as “No Further Investigation” for an impeding incident. Russell set the earl;y pace ahead of Hamilton, Leclerc, Antonelli with Verstappen, Norris, Hadjar all qualifying P5 and dethroning each other. Bearman manages to go P6 with Bortoleto only managing P6. Gasly manages P8, Colapinto P13, Lindblad then ahead of Bortoleto before the two Alpine times with Lawson P14.

In the final laps of Q2, Piastri had the most amount of pressure and went out to get clean air earlier than most drivers to manage P5 before Leclerc manages to go P1. Norris then managed to get P5. Hulkkenberg missed out on Q3 by 0.002s as Antonelli managed P1. Hadjar only managged P10 with Verstappen to P6. Bortoleto then spun at the final corner and ruined laps for many drivers as Colapinto wasn’t able to get through.
Out in Q2:
Hulkenberg
Colapinto
Ocon
Lawson
Lindblad
Bortoleto

Q3

Q3 saw Russell’s car get a new rose but then his car stopped on track and then get going but being unablce to change gears. Antonelli manages a 1:32.332 with Leclerc manages P2, Hamilton P3 and Bearman P4. Norris and Piastri manage P3 and P4 respectfully with Hadjar P7 before he goes P6. 

Drivers headed out to qualifying with just over 3 minutes 30 seconds remaining  that Russell was ale to make it out of the pitlane. Purple sectors were being traded between Antonelli and Norris and Leclerc. Antonelli was the first to cross the line and extend his gap ahead as Norris remained P3, Leclerc P2, then Hamilton P2, Gasly P6, Bearman P7, Hadjar managed P7 then Verstappen P7.  Russell managed to get a lap in for P2 so Andrea Kimi Antonelli managed to become the youngest pole sitter in F1 history!

Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz Media

Full Qualifying Finishing Order

PositionDriverTeam
P1Andrea Kimi AntonelliMercedes
P2George RussellMercedes
P3Lewis HamiltonFerrari
P4Charles LeclercFerrari
P5Oscar PiastriMcLaren
P6Lando NorrisMcLaren
P7Pierre GaslyAlpine
P8Max VerstappenRed Bull
P9Isack HadjarRed Bull
P10Oliver BearmanHaas
P11Nico HulkenbergAudi
P12Franco ColapintoAlpine
P13Esteban OconHaas
P14Liam LawsonVCARB
P15Arvid LindbladVCARB
P16Gabriel BortoletoAudi
P17Carlos SainzWilliams
P18Alex AlbonWilliams
P19Fernando AlonsoAston Martin
P20Valtteri BottasCadillac
P21Lance StrollAston Martin
P22Sergio PerezCadillac
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