McLaren’s Oscar Piastri takes pole position for Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI – McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was “pumped” as he took the first proper pole position of his Formula One career in China on March 22 with the fastest lap yet around the Shanghai International Circuit.

The Australian, who has had sprint poles before, was joined on the front row for the main race on March 23 by Mercedes’ George Russell. The Briton was 0.082sec behind.

Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris, the winner of the season opener in Australia and leader of the drivers’ championship, abandoned his final effort and will start in third place with Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen in fourth. 

Ferrari filled the third row, with Lewis Hamilton securing fifth after winning the earlier sprint race and teammate Charles Leclerc in sixth.

“I found a lot of pace in Q3. Q1 and Q2 I was genuinely struggling and the car came alive, I came alive in Q3. The laps were a little bit scruffy but I’m just pumped to be on pole,” Piastri said.

“I was pretty happy after the sprint (finishing second). We did the most we could. I would have been happier with one spot higher, but with how the race turned out I couldn’t have asked for much more.

“I feel like we learnt a lot and I’m looking forward to putting that into use tomorrow.”

McLaren chief executive Zak Brown was especially pleased for the 23-year-old, as his team look strong in the defence of their constructors’ championship title with Piastri matching up to Norris.

“It’s awesome to have Oscar get his first pole. He’s been close, a lot of front rows, and that was a mega lap,” he said.

Norris was not as thrilled, however.

“Always disappointed if I’m not on pole but Oscar deserves it today. He’s done a very good job all weekend. Happy for him and his first pole in F1,” he said.

“Just a couple of mistakes again, kind of been my case this weekend but the car has been feeling better today. A much better direction we are going in, especially yesterday I struggled a lot and even this morning, so not too disappointed.

“We changed quite a lot on the car (after the sprint) because we were nowhere, so let’s see (for tomorrow).”

Russell, meanwhile, said it was “incredible” to qualify second in what he felt was a difficult session due to his tyres.

“It was one of the hardest qualy sessions I’ve done in a long, long time,” he said.

“I was trying all sorts with my preparation with the tyres and nothing seemed to be clicking. I did something totally different on that last lap and it all came alive, the lap was awesome. So happy to be P2.”

Behind Leclerc, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, Hadjar’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda and Williams’ Alex Albon rounded out the top 10.

Earlier in the day, Hamilton said that winning in a Ferrari for the first time felt “mega”, as the seven-time world champion led from start to finish in the sprint race.

The 40-year-old, who finished a disappointing 10th in the season opener in Melbourne, managed his tyres superbly to take the chequered flag ahead of Piastri and Verstappen in the 100km race.

It was the first time Hamilton and Ferrari had won a sprint race since the shortened format was introduced in 2021.

“Starting from pole (in the sprint race). Starting from first in a Ferrari, and winning in a Ferrari, is next level, man. It’s mega,” the six-time Chinese Grand Prix winner said after stepping out of the car.

“And I definitely didn’t expect to have it at the second race. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like. Obviously it’s a sprint race, it’s not the main race, but it’s a good stepping stone.” AFP, REUTERS