Updates from Meghana Sree
After two dominant Sprint sessions from Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari, it’s time to reset and gear up for Qualifying. Join us as we take you through live updates of the intense battle for pole in Shanghai.
Live Updates
8:13 - That's me signing off on this dramatic Qualifying session! Read the qualifying report here, and make sure to catch the race at 7:00am GMT on Sunday. You won't want to miss it.
8:12 - The grid is all set for tomorrow's race and with Piastri lining up first, a win is certainly not out of reach knowing just how powerful the McLaren is in clean air. Norris will be hoping to make up lost positions while the likes of Mercedes, Max Verstappen and Ferrari will not be far behind.
8:10 - Piastri jumps out of the car and shares his happiness on his first Grand Prix pole, saying "The car came alive in Q3. I'm pumped to be on pole." He adds, "We learnt a lot this morning [in the Sprint] and are looking forward to putting that to use tomorrow."
8:04 - Many exciting stories today, including Hadjar outqualifying Tsunoda, the Ferraris lacking pace after the Sprint victory, and Piastri setting the fastest lap ever on this circuit! Just a day after Hamilton sets it no less, the resurfaced track is certainly extremely grippy.
8:01 - Russell splits the McLarens! It's eight-hundredths between Piastri and Russell, with Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hadjar, Antonelli, Tsunoda and Albon rounding out the top ten.
8:00 - Norris bails out of his lap, Piastri is still on top! Piastri on pole for the first time after he improves on his lap again.
7:59 - Norris is up on Piastri's time, Verstappen is hasn't improved in the middle sector.
7:58 - In two minutes, we'll have our Chinese Grand Prix pole-sitter!
7:57 - Trouble in the pitlane for Red Bull and their sister team, as Verstappen ends up having to take avoiding action to dodge Hadjar being released into the fast lane.
7:54 - Antonelli's lap time is deleted after the Mercedes driver went wide. There is one more run to go for our top ten, who are all covered by just a second.
7:52 - Piastri on provisional pole! The Australian is chasing his first ever pole position in F1. Norris is nine-hundredths behind his teammate in P2.
7:51 - Verstappen has come alive in these final minutes of qualifying, setting a 1:30.925.
7:50 - Alex Albon reports that the wind has picked up - expect the gusts to factor into the lap times.
7:49 - Russell jumps the queue ahead of Verstappen at the pit exit.
7:48 - Time for the final 12 minutes!
7:45 - It's a double Q3 appearance for the Racing Bulls, and a great turnaround for Hadjar from his dismal Australia debut. Norris remains on top followed by Verstappen and Piastri. The Briton is definitely the favourite for pole.
7:43 - Q2 Exits: Ocon, Hülkenberg, Alonso, Stroll, Sainz.
7:41 - The Ferraris sneak through but only by a tenth, a long way off from their dominant Sprint showing.
7:40 - The Ferrari pace is slipping away, while the drivers further back are rapidly improving. It's looking tight for Hamilton and Leclerc.
7:38 - Two minutes to go, and the drivers at risk are Sainz, Alonso, Hadjar, Ocon and Stroll. Antonelli radios in that his brake magic is stuck, while the Ferrari pair continue pushing on.
7:36 - Piastri is out again on scrubbed tyres this time.
7:33 - As the drivers peel into the pits, Hamilton getting a call to the weighbridge on the way in, it's a McLaren 1-2 followed by Verstappen, Russell and Tsunoda.
7:31 - It's all purple sectors for Norris, but the Ferraris are yet to show what they've got. On used tyres however, they're no match for Norris' 1:30.787.
7:29 - With ten minutes to go, Russell is on for a blistering lap. Piastri sets the fastest middle sector, while Norris is on an absolute flier.
7:27 - Time for Q2!
7:22 - A double exit for Alpine and more frustration for Lawson. Hadjar and Antonelli are the only rookies to make it through to the next session, while the P1 is occupied by Norris.
7:20 - Q1 Exits: Lawson, Bortoleto, Doohan, Bearman, Gasly.
7: 18 - Leclerc makes it through to second! What a lap from Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar, who take the top spot successively.
7:18 - The final seconds of Q1!
7:14 - It's looking tight for Leclerc as he still finds himself at risk currently in 13th. His teammate Hamilton is certainly more comfortable in the Ferrari this weekend.
7:11 - Liam Lawson's troubles continue this weekend as he fails to set a competitive lap time. The pressure is mounting, as he finds himself in the drop zone, joined by other big names like Charles Leclerc and Norris. Norris is yet to set a lap time after his initial time was deleted.
7:09 - Max Verstappen is up on Piastri, with the Racing Bulls pair yet to set lap times.
7:07 - Lando Norris is the first driver to have a lap time deleted this session for track limits at Turn 9.
7:04 - A rough weekend so far for Jack Doohan who takes a spin off the track. Sprint winner Lewis Hamilton currently has the fastest middle sector, but is bested by Oscar Piastri with a 1:31.591.
7:02 - With 18 minutes on the board, the Sauber pair is out on track first, followed by Williams' Carlos Sainz who is going for the first benchmark lap-time.
7:00 - It’s a green light at the pit lane! We’re on for a rapid shootout to set the grid for Sunday’s race.
6:50 - 10 minutes to go until a sure to be electric qualifying session in Shanghai! Stay tuned for all the updates.
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