F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE: Sprint qualifying results and updates in ...
Formula 1 updates from the Shanghai International Circuit as China hosts the first sprint weekend of the season
Formula 1 returns to China after a five-year absence as the Shanghai International Circuit hosts the fifth race of the 2024 season - and the first of six sprint weekends.
Max Verstappen returned to winning ways last time out in Japan, cruising to another victory and leading home a third Red Bull one-two finish of the season, with team-mate Sergio Perez again second-best.
Carlos Sainz backed up his win in Australia with a third podium of the season, while it was another weekend to forget for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. Since then, Fernando Alonso has signed a new contract at Aston Martin, ending speculation he could replace Hamilton at the Silver Arrows next season.
China was selected as one of six venues to host a sprint weekend by F1 and returns to the calendar after five years following a spree of Covid-related cancellations. Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix last time out in 2019 and has been victorious six times in Shanghai.
Follow live coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix with The Independent
Lando Norris mastered a rain-hit qualifying to secure pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix.
In soaking conditions at the Shanghai International Circuit, Norris finished 1.2 seconds clear of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in an all-British front row for Saturday’s 19-lap dash.
Hamilton looked to have taken top spot after Norris’ best lap was deleted by the stewards only for it then to be reinstated.
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:08
Zhou Guanyu on racing in China and performing well in sprint qualifying:
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:43
Daniel Ricciardo said he has been assured by Red Bull that he is not set to lose his seat – but admitted if he continues to get his “arse whooped” he does not deserve to be in Formula One.
Following a troubled start to his first full season back on the grid, Ricciardo, 34, arrives for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix as a driver under pressure.
Ricciardo was handed a reprieve by Red Bull’s junior outfit, RB, midway through last season, after he was dumped by McLaren.
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:23
Here’s Max Verstappen talking us through his sprint race qualifying:
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:20
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who finished fourth and will have to fight from the second row tomorrow for the sprint race said: “It never really switched on for me.
“It was just like driving on ice, that is why also I think we deserved where we are in qualifying, it isn’t really working for me in the wet but it is not where we are in the dry.
“It is not ideal to start on the inside here. We have to try and have the best start possible and then I think it will be quite a long stint on one tyres in the sprint.”
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:18
Fernando Alonso, who finished third in sprint race qualifying, speaking to Sky Sports: “We were not super competitive on the dry. In the wet it was difficult to judge the level of grip and risk we wanted to apply but in the end I am happy.
“We have a lot of racing laps in the weekend with the sprint race tomorrow and the race on Sunday. Let’s see if we can qualify well for Sunday’s race tomorrow and then we will see.”
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:14
Zhou Guanyu secured a place in the top 10 for tomorrow’s sprint race in a dream start to his home race weekend.
“We will give everything,” he told Sky Sports after sprint qualifying. “I am just happy with the first day and great to have everyone here.
“The pressure before the weekend was so extreme, like I felt when I made my debut. Everyone is here and that is when you want to do well.”
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:10
Here’s what Lewis Hamilton had to say after finishing on the front row for the sprint race: “It was very tricky. Tricky conditions, not a lot of grip as you saw. I’m so happy, as soon as I saw the rain coming I got excited because under dry conditions we’re not quick enough.
“When the rain came I thought that I would have a better opportunity and that’s when it all came alive.
“It really depends on what the conditions will be [for the sprint tomorrow]. If it’s like that then maybe we’ll have a chance of being somewhere up there. I think if it’s dry the Ferraris and Red Bulls will come by but maybe we can hold off some of the others.”
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:04
Post qualifying session reaction from George Russell, speaking to Sky Sports: “It was not easy at all. We tried sending it as early as we could in SQ2 but stuck behind the cars in the pit lane and lost the tyre temperature.
“It was close, one more tenth and you’re four or five positions higher. It’s just a shame to be on the bottom end of that. We have a chance to recover in the sprint race. And then have a chance in race qualifying tomorrow.
“The grip is really low here compared to what we expected for everybody . There’s no junior series here to help rubber the track in. For everyone you’re slipping and sliding around. It is quite challenging to judge but we have another chance tomorrow and maybe make some tweaks overnight.”
Mike Jones19 April 2024 10:00
Reaction from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff: “I haven’t seen the detail [of Lando Norris’ reinstatement] but honestly that was even slower and he would have probably gone faste so I’m okay with that.
“I think, obviously, the driving is the most important in the wet. It shows it’s about tyre preparation, we did the right thing on the final run, the tyres were in the sweet spot combined with a great drive [from Lewis Hamilton], that made the time.
“We changed a little bit the specs of the tyres but the point is that both cars were not competitive in SQ2 because the tyres never gripped. I think in our car, generating grip is not an easy task. We failed in SQ1 and SQ2 but got it right in SQ3.
“I think we should have the pace in the dry, I don’t think we have the pace against the Red Bulls but we are against the McLarens. But also, we don’t know. We have no data from FP1, it could be that they are much quicker too or the other way around.”
Mike Jones19 April 2024 09:56
