Valtteri Bottas will begin the 1000th World Championship race on pole after a brilliant performance in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. The Finn edged out Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, having shown better pace than the world champion all weekend.
Ferrari had been expected to hold a distinct advantage on Shanghai’s long straights, but they were no match for the Silver Arrows. Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc will fill the second row, hoping to show greater race pace, having struggled through Saturday.
Max Verstappen had the Red Bull between Ferrari at points in qualifying but will start fifth after running out of time to set a final flying lap in Q3, with teammate Pierre Gasly alongside him on row three, having made Q3 for the first time this year.
Row four is all Renault, with Haas rounding out a Noah’s Ark top 10.
Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix – Qualifying Results
1. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport 1m31.547s
2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport + 0.023s
3. Sebastian Vettel GER Scuderia Ferrari + 0.301s
4. Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari + 0.318s
5. Max Verstappen NED Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda + 0.542s
6. Pierre Gasly FRA Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Honda + 1.383s
7. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Renault F1 Team + 1.411s
8. Nico Hulkenberg GER Renault F1 Team + 1.415s
9. Kevin Magnussen DEN Rich Energy Haas F1 Team no time
10. Romain Grosjean FRA Rich Energy Haas F1 Team no time
— Q2 FASTEST TIME: 1m31.637s
11. Daniil Kvyat RUS Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda + 1.599s
12. Sergio Perez MEX SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team + 1.662s
13. Kimi Raikkonen ITA Alfa Romeo Racing + 1.782s
14. Carlos Sainz ESP McLaren F1 Team + 1.886s
15. Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team + 2.330s
— Q1 FASTEST TIME: 1m32.658s —
16. Lance Stroll CAN SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team + 1.634s
17. George Russell GBR ROKiT Williams Racing + 2.595s
18. Robert Kubica POL ROKiT Williams Racing + 2.623s
19. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo Racing no time
20. Alexander Albon THA Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda no time
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