Kimi Antonelli turned Formulation 1’s youngest ever pole-sitter as he edged out his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in qualifying for the Chinese language Grand Prix.
Russell, who received the Dash earlier on Saturday, appeared to have the sting over Antonelli however suffered a technical subject within the closing a part of qualifying that restricted him to 1 rushed lap on the finish of the session.
Antonelli took full benefit of getting two clear runs in, setting a time of 1:32.064 on his second effort to beat Russell by 0.222s as Mercedes locked out the entrance row for the third time in as many qualifying classes this season.
The 19-year-old breaks a document set by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who claimed his first F1 pole on the age of 21 on the 2008 Italian Grand Prix when he was driving for Toro Rosso.
“It was a fairly clear session, so (I am) actually completely satisfied,” mentioned Antonelli, who had beforehand claimed a Dash pole eventually yr’s Miami Grand Prix throughout his rookie marketing campaign.
“George had a problem in Q3 and it will have been cool to see him with two units (of tyres). I noticed he had the problem and tried to maintain my focus to remain calm and ship an excellent lap.”
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George Russell stops at the beginning of Q3 after an issue along with his Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton produced one other encouraging show as he edged out his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc for third, with little greater than a hundredth of a second separating the pair as they completed three tenths again from Antonelli.
Oscar Piastri beat his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris to fifth because the reigning constructors’ champions confirmed some enchancment however nonetheless lacked the tempo to problem for pole.
Max Verstappen’s robust begin to the season with Pink Bull continued as he might solely qualify eighth, ending behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
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Max Verstappen lower a bleak determine after ending ninth within the Chinese language GP Dash race.
Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar was ninth forward of Haas’ Oliver Bearman, however the French driver was lucky to make it by means of Q2 after Gabriel Bortoleto spinning off triggered yellow flags that prevented a number of others from having the prospect to knock the Pink Bull out.
The six drivers knocked out in Q1 had been the identical as in Dash Qualifying a day earlier, with Williams’ massively disappointing begin to the season persevering with as Carlos Sainz edged out team-mate Alex Albon for seventeenth.
Aston Martin suffered one other blow amid their engine struggles as Lance Stroll was overwhelmed to twentieth by Valtteri Bottas for F1 newcomers Cadillac.
‘Harm limitation’ for Russell
Since Mercedes unleashed their tempo eventually weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Russell has appeared to have a major edge over his younger team-mate.
The Brit had fairly comfortably outqualified Antonelli in Australia and in Friday’s China Dash Qualifying and in addition went on to win each races.
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Highlights of the Dash race from the 2026 Chinese language Grand Prix.
The sample appeared set to proceed on Saturday in Shanghai till Russell was beset by a collection of points within the enterprise finish of the session.
Having already executed a lap comfortably quick sufficient to get him by means of Q2, Russell reported a problem along with his entrance wing and demanded or not it’s modified, whereas additionally requesting checks to the ground of his automobile.
When he emerged for his first run in Q3, he all of a sudden stopped on monitor, and after an agonising interval stationary, was capable of coax his W17 again to the storage.
The mechanics labored swiftly to get the automobile prepared to return out on monitor, however it was solely cleared in time to go away Russell with one flying lap, with drama added by the very fact he could be the final of all of the drivers in Q3 to set a time.
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The thrilling finish to Chinese language GP qualifying as Kimi Antonelli claimed pole place.
Russell was in the end unable to get inside two tenths of Antonelli’s finest time, however the second place he salvaged was a much better final result than the tenth place that was looming had he didn’t set a time.
“Positively harm limitation,” Russell mentioned. “Q2, the entrance wing broke, we had been wrapping our heads round that. Then clearly went out in Q3, automobile stopped on monitor, automobile wasn’t restarting, could not change gear.
“Completely happy standing right here as a result of beginning the final lap I had no battery, no tyre temp, no nothing. However the crew have executed a extremely nice job to get us into this place, it might have been a lot worse.”
Sky Sports F1’s Chinese GP schedule
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A glance again on the wildest moments caught on the onboard cameras on the Chinese language Grand Prix
Sunday March 15
2.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*
5.30am: Chinese language GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese language GP response: Chequered Flag*
10am: Ted’s Pocket book*
*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion
Formulation 1 is in Shanghai for the primary Dash weekend of the 2026 season on the Chinese language Grand Prix, reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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