2024-04-20 08:13:00
Max Verstappen has taken another pole at the 2024 Chinese GP, his 37th in Formula 1. Sergio Pérez has sealed a double for Red Bull and Fernando Alonso, with a stunning performance in Q3, has finished third. Carlos Sainz, with a small accident included in Q2, secured seventh place.
It’s strange to have the qualification for the Grand Prix following competing in the Sprint, but that’s what the format change has. And the truth is that there have been some surprises, like Lewis Hamilton’s “fall” in Q1 following finishing second in the Sprint.
At the top, however, there have been no surprises. Max Verstappen has once once more demonstrated his power, achieving another pole position at a track that Formula 1 has not visited since 2019, while Sergio Pérez confirmed Red Bull’s dominance with second place.
Of course, the Mexican has had to sweat to beat Fernando Alonso, who finished second in the first attempt in Q3. The Asturian has actually completed another good lap in his last attempt and has not only beaten his rivals by a few thousandths, but has also been a tenth behind ‘Checo’.
Behind Alonso, McLarens and Ferraris – “ordered” -. Lando Norris was fourth, ahead of Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. These five drivers, separated by less than a tenth and a half! Sainz recovered well from the slight knock in Q2, but he might only finish seventh. George Russell, Nico Hülkenberg and Valtteri Bottas completed the top 10.
Q1
After a sprint in which Verstappen dominated and ‘sparks’ between Alonso and Sainz, it was time to face a classification that took place in dry conditions and with the asphalt at a temperature of 35 degrees.
There was no time to lose, so many drivers quickly took to the track. The first lap was a 1’38”142 by Yuki Tsunoda – with DRS problems – although obviously it didn’t take long for him to fall.
George Russell started with a 1’36”436 and Charles Leclerc directly set a 1’35”980, but Fernando Alonso, with an impressive 1’35”116 – seven tenths faster than Lance Stroll – has risen to first place.
Moreover, that time has allowed the Asturian to stay ahead of Red Bull at the first attempt. Max Verstappen was 55 thousandths behind with a 1’35”171; Sergio Pérez had to ‘abort’ following going wide at Turn 1 when he encountered traffic.
Oscar Piastri arrived shortly following with a 1’35”014 and Carlos Sainz, on his first lap with the soft – having taken to the track first with used equipment – dropped to 1’34”970.
In the final moments, Verstappen showed muscle by setting a 1’34”742 on used tires and ending the session in first place, ahead of Leclerc, Norris, Sainz and Piastri.
Behind, a big surprise: Lewis Hamilton, following finishing second in the sprint, failed to advance to Q2 following making a mistake at turn 14. Those eliminated were: Guanyu Zhou, Kevin Magnussen, Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant. Sergio Pérez has passed in fifteenth place.
Q2
Q1 has left us with all sorts of emotions… and there were still two sessions to go! The second has been presented with the most “rubber treated” asphalt and has dropped to 34 degrees temperature.
There was no rush in this matter. More than two minutes have passed until the first driver has left the Pit-Lane. Nico Hülkenberg was responsible for launching the timing this time, and he did so with a time of 1’34”979.
Fernando Alonso appeared shortly following with a good time of 1’34”801, but the two McLarens improved it and Max Verstappen started directly with an impressive time of 1’33”946.
Carlos Sainz prepared to close his first lap, but he left the final corner too wide and lost control of his car, hitting – not too hard – the guards and causing a red flag. The good news is that, despite his injuries, he was able to resume driving and return to Pit-Lane.
Action resumed with 6’44” ahead and of course almost everything has changed: Verstappen improved to 1’33”794 to end the session on top, followed by Pérez. But it’s worth noting that Sainz has worked his way up to third, a few thousandths ahead of Leclerc. Alonso, seventh.
Behind, Valtteri Bottas has thrown out Lance Stroll by a few thousandths and the others eliminated have been Daniel Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon, Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly.
Q3
After two spectacular sessions, it was time to face the third to define the “top 10” of tomorrow’s grid. The track gets faster and faster and with a temperature of 33 degrees.
George Russell and Nico Hülkenberg have had to go out on their first try with used soft tyres; the rest – apart from Bottas, who has not come out – with new tyres.
In the first attempt, Max Verstappen was fastest with a time of 1’33”977, but Fernando Alonso surprised everyone by placing second with a 1’34”371.
The Spaniard beat Sergio Pérez by almost a tenth and also left McLaren and Ferrari behind. Carlos Sainz, despite not doing a brilliant lap, was ahead of Charles Leclerc.
The last attempt was still missing, the last, but Verstappen left no options for the rest by improving his time to 1’33”660. The Pole, for him. And Pérez has sealed the double for Red Bull… but by just a tenth over Fernando Alonso who has shone once more to finish third.
Behind Alonso, McLarens and Ferraris – “ordered” -. Lando Norris was fourth, ahead of Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. These five drivers, separated by less than a tenth and a half! Sainz has recovered well from the slight crash in Q2, but he might only finish seventh. George Russell, Nico Hülkenberg and Valtteri Bottas completed the top 10.
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