{"id":272394,"date":"2025-04-02T17:51:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T17:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/02\/chinese-grand-prix-f1-mclarens-piastri-takes-first-pole-in-shanghai-after-finishing-second-in-sprint\/"},"modified":"2025-04-02T17:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T17:51:10","slug":"chinese-grand-prix-f1-mclarens-piastri-takes-first-pole-in-shanghai-after-finishing-second-in-sprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/02\/chinese-grand-prix-f1-mclarens-piastri-takes-first-pole-in-shanghai-after-finishing-second-in-sprint\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Grand Prix, F1: McLaren\u2019s Piastri takes first pole in Shanghai after finishing second in sprint"},"content":{"rendered":"
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McLaren\u2019s Oscar Piastri seized the first proper pole position of his Formula One career at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday with the fastest lap yet around the Shanghai International Circuit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Australian, a two-time race winner who previously only had sprint poles, lapped in one minute 30.641 seconds and was joined on the front row for Sunday\u2019s start by George Russell after the Mercedes driver put in a storming final effort of 1:30.723.<\/span><\/p>\n

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McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris, the championship leader and winner of the season-opener in Australia, abandoned his final lap \u2014 while Piastri improved his time \u2014 and will start third with Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen fourth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ferrari filled the third row with Lewis Hamilton securing fifth, but 0.286 seconds off the pole pace after winning the earlier sprint race, and teammate Charles Leclerc sixth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe laps were a little bit scruffy but I\u2019m just pumped to be on pole,\u201d said Piastri, who started on the front row in Australia but finished only ninth after spinning off.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first Australian to take pole since Daniel Ricciardo in Mexico in 2018, and 107th pole sitter in F1 history, Piastri had finished second in the sprint and can now look forward to a much <\/span>bigger<\/span> points haul on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s awesome to have Oscar get his first pole. He\u2019s been close, a lot of front rows, and that was a mega lap,\u201d said McLaren Chief Executive Zak Brown.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Norris congratulated Piastri on his success and <\/span>was<\/span> much happier with his <\/span>own<\/span> car after labouring to eighth in the sprint.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe changed quite a lot on the car (after the sprint) because we were nowhere,\u201d he said, blaming himself for some mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018CAME ALIVE\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mercedes\u2019 Russell said he had struggled to get the tyres working <\/span>properly<\/span> but that everything changed on the final lap.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did something totally different on that last lap and it all came alive, the lap was awesome,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI had a big moment at turn one but it just all came together. I was really surprised when I crossed the line, I knew it was a good lap but to be between the McLarens \u2014 just buzzing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

French rookie Isack Hadjar qualified seventh for Racing Bulls, a strong response to his nightmare debut<\/span><\/p>\n

in<\/span> Melbourne, with Mercedes\u2019 Andrea Kimi Antonelli eighth and Yuki Tsunoda ninth for Racing Bulls.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alex Albon completed the top 10 in a Williams.<\/span><\/p>\n

Verstappen\u2019s teammate Liam Lawson, already struggling just two races into the job, had another woeful qualifying and will start last.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve got to get a handle on it,\u201d said the New Zealander.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a messy session and had we not dealt with traffic and stuff like that it might have been OK, but <\/span>to be honest<\/span> it\u2019s still not good enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just need to get on top of it. I think it\u2019s just time. Unfortunately I don\u2019t really have time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Red Bull boss Christian Horner, asked if there was an emerging problem with a driver brought in to replace under-performing Mexican Sergio Perez and score solid points, <\/span>agreed<\/span> it had been a tough day for Lawson.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ll have a good look at it and go through it and try to give him the best car for tomorrow,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Australian Jack Doohan, who collected two penalty points for a collision in the sprint, also went out at the first hurdle and will start 18th with Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly 16th.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n