F1: Verstappen Secures Pole in Red Bull 1-2 at Chinese GP

Max Verstappen became the first driver since Mika Häkkinen to be on pole 5 consecutive times at the start of the season.

Max Verstappen continued his dominant form in the Chinese Grand Prix qualifying, securing pole position in a Red Bull 1-2 at the Shanghai International Circuit. This marks Red Bull's 100th pole position and Verstappen's fifth consecutive pole at the start of the 2023 F1 season, a feat not achieved since Mika Hakkinen's run with McLaren in 1999.

Sergio Perez, Verstappen's teammate, claimed P2, narrowly beating Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin. Alonso, who retired from the sprint race earlier, was handed a controversial 10-second time penalty for the main race.

McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri impressed with P4 and P5, respectively. In contrast, Scuderia Ferrari had a disappointing session, with Carlos Sainz Jr managing P7 despite a crash scare in Q2, and Charles Leclerc finishing just ahead in P6.

George Russell was the sole Mercedes representative in the top 10, securing P8, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton surprisingly exited in Q1, managing only P18. Nico Hulkenberg showcased the pace of the upgraded Haas car, finishing P9, and Valtteri Bottas, a former race winner at the circuit, rounded out the top 10 in the Stake F1 Sauber.

Lance Stroll narrowly missed out on Q3, settling for P11 in the second Aston Martin. Daniel Ricciardo had his best session of the season in the Visa Cash App RB, finishing P12 ahead of teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who struggled in P19.

The updated Alpine cars performed decently, with Esteban Ocon in P13 and Pierre Gasly in P15, separated by Alex Albon in the Williams. Home favourite Guanyu Zhou managed P16 in the Stake F1 Sauber, ahead of the second Haas of Kevin Magnussen. Logan Sargeant, who struggled throughout the session, finished last on the grid in the Williams.

Classification:

1 Max VERSTAPPEN 1:33.660

2 Sergio PEREZ +0.322

3 Fernando ALONSO +0.488

4 Lando NORRIS +0.505

5 Oscar PIASTRI +0.613

6 Charles LECLERC +0.629

7 Carlos SAINZ +0.637

8 George RUSSELL +0.773

9 Nico HULKENBERG +0.944

10 Valtteri BOTTAS +1.005

11 Lance STROLL 1:34.838

12 Daniel RICCIARDO 1:34.934

13 Esteban OCON 1:35.223

14 Alexander ALBON 1:35.241

15 Pierre GASLY 1:35.463

16 Guanyu ZHOU 1:35.505

17 Kevin MAGNUSSEN 1:35.516

18 Lewis HAMILTON 1:35.573

19 Yuki TSUNODA 1:35.746

20 Logan SARGEANT 1:36.358