Norris beats Hamilton to sprint race pole in frantic wet session · RaceFans

Lando Norris secured pole position for the sprint race at the Shanghai International Circuit after going quickest in a wet sprint qualifying session.

Norris was fastest by over a second from Lewis Hamiltonafter rain fell at the end of the second phase of qualifying.

Fernando Alonso will start third for Saturday’s sprint race, with championship leader Max Verstappen lining up in fourth.

SQ1

After just a single hour of practice, drivers headed out on track for the first of two three-stage qualifying sessions of the weekend. As per the regulations, all cars were compelled to run medium compound tyres during the first phase.

As cars headed out on track for the first time, very light drops of rain began to fall from the overcast skies above. Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase assured his driver that his team did not expect the light rain to be enough to wet the circuit.

After the first timed laps, Sergio Perez was quickest of all, three tenths faster than team mate Verstappen with Fernando Alonso third for Aston Martin. Many drivers chose to remain on their tyres to complete multiple push laps with a cool lap in between.

Logan Sargeant complained that Pierre Gasly impeded him through the long right-hander of turn 13 leading onto the back straight. However, race control did not deem the incident being worthy of noting. Carlos Sainz Jnr passed Nico Hulkenberg through the fast left of turn seven, also accusing the Haas of impeding him, but, again, race control opted to take no action.

In the closing moments, George Russell was the surprising name still in the drop zone of the bottom five. But on his final effort, he managed to improve to 13th place and go 13th fastest, behind his team mate Lewis Hamilton. That dropped Pierre Gasly into elimination in 16th, with Alpine team mate Esteban Ocon also out in 17th.

Alexander Albon was also knocked out in 18th, with Yuki Tsunoda failing to follow RB team mate Daniel Ricciardo through to SQ2. Ricciardo reached the next stage despite Sainz overtaking him as he began his final lap, the RB driver retaking the Ferrari driver as they rounded the first two corners. Sargeant was the slowest driver eliminated from the session.

After the chequered flag flew for the end of the session, drivers began to report that another fire had ignited in the grass at the inside of turn seven, as also occurred during the earlier practice session. The start of SQ2 was therefore delayed while marshals set about it with their extinguishers.