F1 Chinese GP Qualifying: Ferrari SF-25 cars on the third row in Shanghai. F1 Chinese GP Qualifying: how Ferrari performed at the Shanghai circuit.

Oscar Piastri Claims Pole Position for 2025 Chinese Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri will lead the grid at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix after securing pole position with a blistering lap of 1:30.641 at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Australian driver showcased exceptional pace throughout the session, narrowly edging out George Russell, who secured second place. Lando Norris completed the top three, ensuring a strong starting position for McLaren.

Piastri Capitalizes on Late Session Gains

The opening laps of Q3 saw Piastri, Norris, and Max Verstappen battling for the provisional pole, with the Australian initially holding the top spot. However, while Norris and Verstappen were unable to improve on their final runs, Piastri found additional pace in his last attempt, cementing his position at the front of the grid. George Russell took full advantage of his final lap, climbing to second place and pushing Norris down to third. Lewis Hamilton will start from P5, just ahead of Charles Leclerc, as Ferrari looks to bounce back from a challenging qualifying session.

Isack Hadjar delivered an outstanding performance, outqualifying both his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, Alexander Albon rounded out the top ten, securing a solid starting position for Williams.

Q2: Ferrari and Antonelli Avoid Trouble as Midfield Battles Intensify

The second qualifying session threatened to put Ferrari and Antonelli at risk, but with no major improvements from the midfield challengers, both teams managed to scrape through. Esteban Ocon came agonizingly close to reaching Q3 but ultimately missed out, settling for 11th place. Nico Hülkenberg delivered Sauber’s best qualifying result of the season, securing P12.

Aston Martin endured another disappointing session, with both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll failing to progress. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz found himself eliminated in Q2 once again, ending the session in 15th place, two-tenths behind his teammate Charles Leclerc.

Q2 Eliminations:

P11 Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

P12 Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber)

P13 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

P14 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

P15 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

Q1: Early Exits for Alpine and Rookie Contenders

The first segment of qualifying saw Liam Lawson struggle once again, finishing in P20, mirroring his Sprint Qualifying result. Alpine had a disastrous session, as Pierre Gasly made a costly mistake in the final corner, preventing him from advancing beyond Q1. Jack Doohan also had a tough outing, spinning at Turn 9 on his opening lap and failing to recover.

Gabriel Bortoleto, who had shown promise in previous rounds, was unable to outqualify Nico Hülkenberg this time, finishing 19th. Oliver Bearman also faced an early exit, ending his session in P17.

Q1 Eliminations:

P16 Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

P17 Oliver Bearman (Haas)

P18 Jack Doohan (Alpine)

P19 Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

P20 Liam Lawson (RB)

With Piastri leading the charge and an intense midfield battle shaping up, the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling contest. Stay tuned for all the latest updates as race day approaches.