The judges took the stick from Norris and then gave it back to him! First crazy qualifying in Shanghai
Dmitry Zakharchenko April 19, 2024, 11:32 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
And Max Verstappen unexpectedly couldn’t cope with the rainy track! The current champion is not even in the top 3.
Formula 1 has not been in Shanghai for five years, but in the 2024 season the Chinese circuit returned to the World Championship calendar, and immediately in a new format with a sprint. And Friday’s main event at the Chinese Grand Prix was qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race.
SQ1: Russell vs. Alpine
At the beginning of the first section of the stop, the rain began to pour down on the track, so the drivers tried to set a fast lap as soon as possible. However, it never really rained: the weather did not interfere with the balance of power.
However, already in the first segment, George Russell almost fell: the Briton was inferior to Pierre Gasly’s schedule in the last minutes, but was able to overtake the Frenchman in the last sector and send him to the relegation zone, to Esteban Ocon. , who, unlike his partner, had a new butt.
The Williams drivers were also unable to advance: Alex Albon showed the 18th time and Logan Sargent closed the protocols. Among them was Yuki Tsunoda; this time the Japanese lost to Daniel Ricciardo by more than half a second.
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SQ2: It still rained
In the second segment, the fight ended earlier than expected: the rain promised by meteorologists arrived a couple of minutes before the end of SQ2. As a result, George Russell, who fought until the end, was unable to complete another fastest lap and remained in 11th place, out of the final segment.
Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg took 12th and 13th, Daniel Ricciardo took 14th and Lance Stroll completed the timesheets. It should be noted that the Canadian lost to Fernando Alonso, who occupied eighth position, by 0.56 seconds.
But the Kick-Sauber drivers were happy: both Bottas and Zhou, to the delight of the home fans, entered SQ3. Furthermore, Guanyu was ahead of Russell by just 0.038 seconds.
SQ3: Battle in the rain
At the beginning of the final segment, the rain had not stopped and the drivers left the pits with “intermediate” tires. However, Charles Leclerc still could not stay on the track: the Monegasque’s Ferrari was swept away by the current at turn eight. The car reached the limit and Leclerc had to go look for a new wing.
Max Verstappen, who is usually fantastic in these conditions, did not always stay on the track. The Dutchman spun in turn six, causing the judges to dock him a lap, and on his next attempt he fell in the final corner.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris took first place, but his lap was also disqualified for violating track limits, but then the Briton was fastest again and still claimed his right to the sprint pole. Additionally, this circle was also taken away from Lando, but was then quickly restored.
The second time was in the hands of Hamilton, Alonso closed the first three and Verstappen at the end of the session could only show the fourth time. Sainz, Pérez and Leclerc were left behind, who took seventh position. Piastri qualified eighth and the top 10 was completed by the Kick-Sauber drivers: Bottas was ninth and Zhou tenth.
The Chinese Grand Prix sprint starts on Saturday, April 20 at 6:00 Moscow time.
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