Oscar Piastri claims first ever pole at Chinese Grand Prix after sprint-race joy for Lewis Hamilton

McLaren driver starts from front of grid at Shanghai International Circuit while seven-time world champion savours first victory in Ferrari colours

Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 22, 2025 McLaren's Oscar Piastri celebrates after qualifying in pole position with second placed Mercedes' George Russell and third placed McLaren's Lando Norris REUTERS / Tyrone Siu

Australian driver Oscar Piastri celebrates after claiming pole position after qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit. AP

George Russell congratulates Oscar Piastri after the qualifying session at Shanghai International Circuit. AFP

McLaren's scar Piastri during qualifying that would see him claim pole after finishing 0.082 seconds ahead of George Russell of Mercedes. AFP

McLaren's British driver Lando Norris leaves the pit during qualifying that would see him finish third behind Oscar Piastri and George Russell. Getty Images

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen during qualifying that saw his Red Bull come in fourth fastest. Getty Images

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the sprint race at Shanghai International Circuit. EPA

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton after winning the print race head of second-placed Oscar Piastri, left, of McLaren and Red Bull's Max Verstappen who was third.

Britain celebrates after claiming his first win for Ferrari in the Chinese GP sprint race on only his second outing for the team. EPA

McLaren's Oscar Piastri sealed his first-ever pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday finishing ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell and teammate Lando Norris.

Reigning champion Max Verstappen will line up fourth for Red Bull, one place ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton after the Briton had enjoyed a dominant victory in the sprint race earlier in the day.

Norris won last weekend's opening round in Australia with Piastri only ninth after he slipped off the road in the rain when narrowly trailing his McLaren teammate.

But at the second round of the season in Shanghai, Piastri pulled out all the stops to see off Russell by just 0.082 seconds with Norris having to settle for third, more than a tenth adrift of the Australian.

“It means a lot,” said Piastri. “We've been close a few times now. To have the first grand prix pole it did mean a bit more.

“Pretty pumped to be honest, I've worked hard for it,” added the Australian, who was running second in his home race a week ago before a late spin.

“The start of the season has been strong, just obviously the result in Melbourne was a shame, but I feel like I've been doing a good job otherwise.”

Norris arrived in Shanghai leading the title race for the first time in his life.

But after he made two mistakes in qualifying for Saturday's sprint event – and then ran off the road on the first lap of the dash to the chequered flag to finish only eighth.

“I am not as comfortable as I was in Australia,” said the British driver. “It is just too many mistakes and I have not done the best job. And Oscar has.

“Our car is the quickest one but it is still tricky to drive and putting a lap together is hard to do on a consistent basis. I have a long night ahead of me to look at the data and see where I can improve tomorrow.

“I have not done a perfect job, the field is tight, and I am paying the price for not doing a good enough job.”

To make matters worse for Norris, he was usurped by Russell in the closing moments.

“Feels incredible to be honest,” said second-placed Briton. “One of the hardest qualifying sessions I've done in a long time.

“I was trying all sorts in my prep with the tyres and nothing seemed to be clicking. I tried something completely different on the last lap and it made all the difference.

“I had a big moment at Turn One but it all came together. I was really surprised. I knew it was a good lap but to be between the McLarens … buzzing for tomorrow.”

Seven-time world champion Hamilton had controlled the 19-lap sprint race from pole to take the chequered flag in only his second weekend for Ferrari.

It added a sprint victory to his record six grands prix triumphs in Shanghai.

Hamilton was greeted by a crescendo of cheers from the massed fans, who unfurled huge banners displaying his number 44.

“That is a really, really special weekend so far,” the Englishman told reporters.

“China and Shanghai has always been really good to me since my first race here back in 2007. It's a track that I really do love driving on.

“It's hard to put into words what it feels like.”

Hamilton later said that Ferrari had altered his car's set-up for qualifying.

“We made some changes,” the 40-year-old said. “Nothing major, but the car was really hard to drive. It wasn't hugging the road.”

Hamilton enjoyed clean air out in front of the pack during the sprint, but it was clear that tyre degradation was high for any cars trying to follow those in front closely.

“I don't know how that will affect the pace for tomorrow,” said Hamilton, who will start on the third row alongside teammate Charles Leclerc.

“Everyone showed today it was really difficult to follow.”

It was another difficult session for Red Bull's second driver Liam Lawson, who was 20th and last.

The New Zealander said: “I can get upset at traffic but it shouldn't be the difference between me getting through and not. I have a whole lot of things to sort out myself before I can look at things like that. It is just frustrating.