Chinese Formula One Grand Prix

[mascol]

Unlucky for Lando at the race start, too fast a formation lap left him sitting stationary with cooling tyres at the race start.
Great result for Lewis, but when Max got passed he disappeared down the road at a second a lap

[StevB]

Qualifying
Race tomorrow 08:00am

1) Max Verstappen, [Red Bull] [Red Bull's 100th Pole Position]
2) Sergio Perez, [Red Bull]
3) Fernando Alonso, [Aston Martin]
4) Lando Norris, [McLaren]
5) Oscar Piastri, [McLaren]
6) Charles Leclerc, [Ferrari]
7) Carlos Sainz, [Ferrari]
8) George Russell, [Mercedes]
9) Nico Hulkenberg, [Haas]
10) Valtteri Bottas, [Sauber]


11) Lance Stroll, [Aston Martin]
12) Daniel Ricciardo, [RB]
13) Esteban Ocon, [Alpine]
14) Alex Albon, [Williams]
15) Pierre Gasly, [Alpine]

16) Zhou Guanyu, [Sauber]
17) Kevin Magnussen, [Haas]
18) Lewis Hamilton, [Mercedes]
19) Yuki Tsunoda, [RB]
20) Logan Sargeant, [Williams]

[StevB]

Red Bull's first pole in China in 2009 was achieved by Sebastian Vettel
Fifteen years later Max Verstappen 100th at the same circuit.

One thing has not changed, Fernando Alonso!

[Barney Rubble]

Qualifying
Race tomorrow 08:00am

1) Max Verstappen, [Red Bull] [Red Bull's 100th Pole Position]
2) Sergio Perez, [Red Bull]
3) Fernando Alonso, [Aston Martin]
4) Lando Norris, [McLaren]
5) Oscar Piastri, [McLaren]
6) Charles Leclerc, [Ferrari]
7) Carlos Sainz, [Ferrari]
8) George Russell, [Mercedes]
9) Nico Hulkenberg, [Haas]
10) Valtteri Bottas, [Sauber]


11) Lance Stroll, [Aston Martin]
12) Daniel Ricciardo, [RB]
13) Esteban Ocon, [Alpine]
14) Alex Albon, [Williams]
15) Pierre Gasly, [Alpine]

16) Zhou Guanyu, [Sauber]
17) Kevin Magnussen, [Haas]
18) Lewis Hamilton, [Mercedes]
19) Yuki Tsunoda, [RB]
20) Logan Sargeant, [Williams]

I thought Hamilton was starting in second Steve ?

[StevB]

I thought Hamilton was starting in second Steve ?

He did. In the sprint race.
Two races this weekend. Well, only one main race and a sprint race of only nineteen laps. So, two races and two qualifying, one for the sprint race and one for the main race.
Most points for the sprint race is eight, most for the main race can be twenty-six. Sprint race is over but the main race is tomorrow at 08:00am, and Lewis Hamilton has qualified eighteenth. Big change from second!

[StevB]

This is the problem with the sprint race format. It does perhaps add a bit more excitement at the track itself and perhaps also for the race enthusiast watching at home or the pub but it adds complexity and confusion for someone who does not follow Formula One closely and it adds extra work for the drivers and technicians.

[StevB]

Desperation has set in at Mercedes, I fear. As is often the case in sport and in life, when things don't go right, desperate and illogical decisions are made.
Instead of just setting the car up as best they could and just driving the car, they used a radical set-up and pushed too hard with too much forward brake bias resulting in eighteenth qualifying for Lewis Hamilton. Track is tricky not having been raced on for a long time and with some poor repair work, but eighteenth is woeful.

[StevB]

Fernando Alonso gets a fantastic start. Up to second, nearly overtakes Max Verstappen. Verstappen defends and is starting to pull away.

Lewis Hamilton drops one place to nineteenth. Does not look like he will have a good race.

[StevB]

Sergio Perez overtakes Fernando Alonso to retake second.

[StevB]

Lando Norris up to third.
McLaren, from their radio messages, have been planning this and think Fernando Alonso has overworked his tyres.
Tyre wear will be key here for all drivers.