Summary

Piastri takes first ever Grand Prix pole, Russell 2nd, Norris 3rd
Red Bull's Lawson out in first session; Aston Martin's Alonso out in second
Hamilton wins sprint race, Piastri 2nd, Verstappen 3rd
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Sprint race weekends explained

Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

Piastri takes first pole in China ahead of Russellpublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
McLaren's Oscar Piastri took pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix as George Russell's Mercedes snuck between the Australian and team-mate Lando Norris.
Piastri was fastest of all on both his laps in the final part of qualifying and took pole from Russell by 0.082 seconds.
Norris aborted his final run after a mistake in the middle for the lap and that gave Russell the chance to edge ahead.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen took fourth, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who took his first win for Ferrari in the sprint race earlier on Saturday.
The seven-time champion beat his team-mate Charles Leclerc by 0.094secs.
Read the full report here
Back on Sunday for Chinese GP from 06:00 GMTpublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty Images
Thanks for joining us, folks. The start time on Sunday is slightly better than the previous two days of track action.
Oscar Piastri starts on pole position for the first time in his F1 career but will the Australian take his third victory with McLaren at the Chinese Grand Prix? He has George Russell alongside him and team-mate and championship leader Lando Norris just behind in third spot.
Max Verstappen has just joked to Sky Sports he needs everyone to retire in front of him (he's starting in P4) in order to win the race. "We are not fast enough," adds the Red Bull driver.
We'll fire up the live page at 06:00 GMT tomorrow to build up to a 07:00 lights out in Shanghai.
Enjoy your Saturday!
'There will never be anyone like Eddie Jordan'published at 08:38 Greenwich Mean Time
Media caption,
'There will never be anyone like Eddie Jordan' - Hill
Before we sign off today, there have been plenty of tributes to former Formula 1 team owner and television pundit Eddie Jordan, who died on Thursday at the age of 76.
Jordan's family said he "brought an abundance of charisma, energy and Irish charm everywhere he went", adding: "He will be missed by so many people, but he leaves us with tonnes of great memories".
Speaking in the team principals news conference on Friday, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said: "We need more individuals like Eddie Jordan in Formula 1, they’re kind of the life of the party."
We have lots of tributes on the BBC Sport website for you to read or watch:
Obituary: Eddie Jordan, the flamboyant deal-maker of Formula 1
'A force of nature' - tribute to 'maverick' Jordan
Eddie Jordan - pictures in the life of a Formula 1 icon
F1: Chequered Flag podcast: Eddie Jordan Tribute
Hadjar 'really proud' of Racing Bullspublished at 08:34 Greenwich Mean Time
Isack Hadjar is chatting to Sky Sports following his impressive qualifying showing for Racing Bulls in Shanghai. The French rookie says he is "really proud of the team", adding: "I can't believe how good the car is performing at the moment." He says the front six are probably out of reach when it comes to the long runs, but if he can nail his start then he has a solid chance of scoring hid first Formula 1 points tomorrow.
'A step in the right direction' - Norrispublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty Images
McLaren's Lando Norris, who will start third on the grid: “I’m always disappointed if I’m not on pole, but Oscar [Piastri] deserved it today, he’s done a great job all weekend and I’m happy for him - his first pole in Formula 1 is always cool.
“There were just a couple of mistakes again, the car was feeling much better, I felt a lot more comfortable, so a step in the right direction - especially from yesterday, where I was struggling a lot, and even this morning I was struggling a lot. A much better direction that we are going in, I’m not too disappointed.”
On the car: “[The car] is quick enough, we never doubted that. It’s the quickest car, it can just be a little feisty at times. Today is not so much that, it was just mistakes from my side and that’s all.”
On tomorrow race and changes to the car: “We changed quite a lot on the car because we were nowhere [in the sprint] and we worked hard to make some improvements into qualifying and hopefully in the race tomorrow so we’ll see.”
'I'm buzzing and looking forward to tomorrow' - Russellpublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty Images
Mercedes' George Russell, who will start Sunday's race from P2: "It was incredible to be honest; one of the hardest quali sessions in a long long time. I was trying all sorts with my preparation, the tyres, nothing seemed to be clicking. I did something totally different on the last lap. It all came alive. The last lap was awesome. So happy to be P2.
"I was going fast on the out lap, slow on the out lap, the last one was a bit of a roll of the dice, I had a big moment in Turn One but it all came together. I knew it was a good lap but to be in between the two McLarens, I'm buzzing and looking forward to tomorrow.
On Sunday's race: "It's going to be tough, the medium tyres in the sprint was difficult, I think most drivers will start on that - no one's ran on the hard tyres. We don't know if it will be a one or two stop race but we know he McLarens will be quick."
'I'm pumped to be on pole' - Piastripublished at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty Images
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who takes his first pole position in Formula 1: "I’m glad it looked like that [being hooked up] because it didn’t feel like that. In Q3 I just found a lot of pace, in Q1 and Q2 I was genuinely struggling but the car just came alive in Q3 and I came alive.
“I’m happy with what I did in the end, the laps were still a bit scruffy but I’m just pumped to be on pole.”
On the track: "It’s a lot of fun, with the new surface it’s extremely grippy which for us is the best feeling in the world. The only thing that comes with that is if you lose grip it bites and you’ve probably seen a lot of snaps and a lot of moments this weekend; with the surface we’ve got it’s pretty tricky.
“When you hook it up, it feels pretty mega, so I will take the fastest lap of Shanghai.”
On the race on Sunday and clean air: “That’s hopefully going to be a help, I’ve got to make sure I keep that clean air but I was pretty happy after the sprint. We did the most that we could have and I was pretty happy. I would have been happier with one spot higher but how the race turned out I couldn’t have asked for much more.
“I feel like we learnt a lot this morning and looking forward to trying to put that in to use tomorrow.”
And the restpublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time
11. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
12. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
17. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
18. Jack Doohan (Alpine)
19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
20. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)
Top 10published at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time
Image source, Getty Images
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 1:30.641
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
9. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)
10. Alex Albon (Williams)
Hadjar starts P7published at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time
What a great result also for Isack Hadjar. The French rookie was in tears after crashing out on the formation lap last weekend. But I'm sure he's got a big smile on his face today after qualifying in seventh place for tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix, two places ahead of his Racing Bulls team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.
Image source, Getty Images
'Great result for Russell'published at 08:07 Greenwich Mean Time
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Nobody saw that coming, the pace of the Mercedes there, we thought it was a done deal with Lando Norris in second and a McLaren front row but George Russell fair play, that is a great result and not what Norris wanted at all.
Chequered flagpublished at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time
McLaren's Oscar Piastri will start on pole position for tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix!
"That was the hairpin of my life," he says on the team radio.
That's a maiden F1 pole for the Australian driver, who beats Mercedes' George Russell to the front-row spot by the smallest of margins.
Lando Norris is third, Max Verstappen is fourth and the two Ferraris will share a row in fifth for Lewis Hamilton and sixth for Charles Leclerc.
Image source, Getty Images
Russell goes P2published at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time
Wow! George Russell steams through and puts his Mercedes on to the front row alongside Oscar Piastri. The Briton just missed out on pole by 0.082 seconds.
Piastri improvespublished at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time
With his two main rivals out of the picture, Oscar Piastri goes one better on his final lap and clocks a 1:30.641 - another lap record in Shanghai!
Verstappen stays P3published at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time
Max Verstappen can't improve on his lap time and stays in third place as Lando Norris aborts his attempt!
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 07:59 Greenwich Mean Time
Is this the day Oacar Piastri claims his maiden pole position in Formula 1? The McLaren driver is leading the field after the first runs with Lando Norris second and Max Verstappen third.
Postpublished at 07:58 Greenwich Mean Time
Max Verstappen heads out of the garage but as the Red Bull is going down the pit lane, the Racing Bulls crew wave Isack Hadjar to come out. Unsafe release if ever there was one.
Postpublished at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time
Kimi Antonelli skims across the gravel and has his lap time deleted as a result of track limits. The Italian teenager is the only driver without a marker after the opening runs in Q3.
Oscar Piastri is 0.090 seconds clear of his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 07:56 Greenwich Mean Time
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent
Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda in the Racing Bulls are seventh and eighth but they were on used tyres for that first run, so I think they are in the mix for the top five or six for sure.
Norris goes P2published at 07:54 Greenwich Mean Time
Lando Norris is aiming to push his McLaren team-mate off his perch but the Australian won't budge, so the Briton has to settle for second on the grid. Max Verstappen is third, Lewis Hamilton is fourth, George Russell fifth and Charles Leclerc is sixth.

2025 Chinese Grand Prix

First Practice

Shanghai IC, 21 March 2025

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Lando Norris McLaren	4	1:31.504	23
2	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:31.958	21
3	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:32.153	24
4	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:32.195	22
5	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:32.377	26
6	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	1:32.507	21
7	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:32.687	24
8	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:32.766	23
9	Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:32.874	27
10	Yuki Tsunoda RB	22	1:32.934	23
11	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:32.967	23
12	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:32.984	19
13	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:33.056	23
14	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:33.123	23
15	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:33.145	26
16	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	1:33.284	24
17	Isack Hadjar RB	6	1:33.385	23
18	Liam Lawson Red Bull	30	1:33.631	23
19	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	1:33.822	24
20	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	1:33.923	17

Last updated 21st March 2025 at 04:37

Sprint Qualifying

Shanghai IC, 21 March 2025

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 3	Qualifying 3	Time
1	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	fastest lap 1:31.212	fastest lap 1:31.212	1:31.384	1:31.384	fastest lap 1:30.849	fastest lap 1:30.849	Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:30.849
2	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	1:31.916	1:31.916	1:31.521	1:31.521	1:30.867	1:30.867	Qualifying 3, 1:30.867
3	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:31.723	1:31.723	1:31.362	1:31.362	1:30.929	1:30.929	Qualifying 3, 1:30.929
4	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:31.518	1:31.518	1:31.561	1:31.561	1:31.057	1:31.057	Qualifying 3, 1:31.057
5	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:31.952	1:31.952	1:31.346	1:31.346	1:31.169	1:31.169	Qualifying 3, 1:31.169
6	Lando Norris McLaren	4	1:31.396	1:31.396	fastest lap 1:31.174	fastest lap 1:31.174	1:31.393	1:31.393	Qualifying 3, 1:31.393
7	Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:31.999	1:31.999	1:31.475	1:31.475	1:31.738	1:31.738	Qualifying 3, 1:31.738
8	Yuki Tsunoda RB	22	1:32.316	1:32.316	1:31.794	1:31.794	1:31.773	1:31.773	Qualifying 3, 1:31.773
9	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:32.462	1:32.462	1:31.539	1:31.539	1:31.852	1:31.852	Qualifying 3, 1:31.852
10	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:32.327	1:32.327	1:31.742	1:31.742	1:31.982	1:31.982	Qualifying 3, 1:31.982
11	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:32.121	1:32.121	1:31.815	1:31.815	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:31.815
12	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:32.269	1:32.269	1:31.978	1:31.978	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:31.978
13	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:32.457	1:32.457	1:32.325	1:32.325	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:32.325
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	1:32.539	1:32.539	1:32.564	1:32.564	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:32.564
15	Isack Hadjar RB	6	1:32.171	1:32.171	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.171
16	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	1:32.575	1:32.575	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.575
17	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:32.640	1:32.640	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.640
18	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:32.651	1:32.651	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.651
19	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	1:32.675	1:32.675	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.675
20	Liam Lawson Red Bull	30	1:32.729	1:32.729	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.729

Last updated 21st March 2025 at 08:18

Sprint

Shanghai IC, 22 March 2025

Rank	Driver	Number	Laps	Time	Points
1	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	19	30:39.965	8
2	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	19	6.889 behind	7
3	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	19	9.804 behind	6
4	George Russell Mercedes	63	19	11.592 behind	5
5	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	19	12.190 behind	4
6	Yuki Tsunoda RB	22	19	22.288 behind	3
7	Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	19	23.038 behind	2
8	Lando Norris McLaren	4	19	23.471 behind	1
9	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	19	24.916 behind	0
10	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	19	38.218 behind	0
11	Alexander Albon Williams	23	19	39.292 behind	0
12	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	19	39.649 behind	0
13	Isack Hadjar RB	6	19	42.400 behind	0
14	Liam Lawson Red Bull	30	19	44.904 behind	0
15	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	19	45.649 behind	0
16	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	19	46.182 behind	0
17	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	19	51.376 behind	0
18	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	19	53.940 behind	0
19	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	19	56.682 behind	0
20	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	19	1:10.212 behind	0

Last updated 22nd March 2025 at 06:48

Qualification

Shanghai IC, 22 March 2025

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 3	Qualifying 3	Time
1	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:31.591	1:31.591	1:31.200	1:31.200	fastest lap 1:30.641	fastest lap 1:30.641	Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:30.641
2	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:31.295	1:31.295	1:31.307	1:31.307	1:30.723	1:30.723	Qualifying 3, 1:30.723
3	Lando Norris McLaren	4	fastest lap 1:30.983	fastest lap 1:30.983	fastest lap 1:30.787	fastest lap 1:30.787	1:30.793	1:30.793	Qualifying 3, 1:30.793
4	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	1:31.424	1:31.424	1:31.142	1:31.142	1:30.817	1:30.817	Qualifying 3, 1:30.817
5	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:31.690	1:31.690	1:31.501	1:31.501	1:30.927	1:30.927	Qualifying 3, 1:30.927
6	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:31.579	1:31.579	1:31.450	1:31.450	1:31.021	1:31.021	Qualifying 3, 1:31.021
7	Isack Hadjar RB	6	1:31.162	1:31.162	1:31.253	1:31.253	1:31.079	1:31.079	Qualifying 3, 1:31.079
8	Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:31.676	1:31.676	1:31.590	1:31.590	1:31.103	1:31.103	Qualifying 3, 1:31.103
9	Yuki Tsunoda RB	22	1:31.238	1:31.238	1:31.260	1:31.260	1:31.638	1:31.638	Qualifying 3, 1:31.638
10	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:31.503	1:31.503	1:31.595	1:31.595	1:31.706	1:31.706	Qualifying 3, 1:31.706
11	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:31.876	1:31.876	1:31.625	1:31.625	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:31.625
12	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	1:31.921	1:31.921	1:31.632	1:31.632	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:31.632
13	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:31.719	1:31.719	1:31.688	1:31.688	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:31.688
14	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:31.923	1:31.923	1:31.773	1:31.773	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:31.773
15	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:31.628	1:31.628	1:31.840	1:31.840	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:31.840
16	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:31.992	1:31.992	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:31.992
17	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:32.018	1:32.018	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.018
18	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	1:32.092	1:32.092	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.092
19	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	1:32.141	1:32.141	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.141
20	Liam Lawson Red Bull	30	1:32.174	1:32.174	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:32.174

Last updated 22nd March 2025 at 08:03

Race

Shanghai IC, 23 March 2025

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Grid	Fastest Lap	Race Time
1	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1	not available	no time
2	George Russell Mercedes	63	2	not available	no time
3	Lando Norris McLaren	4	3	not available	no time
4	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	4	not available	no time
5	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	5	not available	no time
6	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	6	not available	no time
7	Isack Hadjar RB	6	7	not available	no time
8	Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	8	not available	no time
9	Yuki Tsunoda RB	22	9	not available	no time
10	Alexander Albon Williams	23	10	not available	no time
11	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	11	not available	no time
12	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	12	not available	no time
13	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	13	not available	no time
14	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	14	not available	no time
15	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	15	not available	no time
16	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	16	not available	no time
17	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	17	not available	no time
18	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	18	not available	no time
19	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	19	not available	no time
20	Liam Lawson Red Bull	30	20	not available	no time

Last updated 22nd March 2025 at 08:03

All times are UK and subject to change. BBC is not responsible for any changes.

How Chinese Grand Prix qualifying unfolded

Summary

Live Reporting

Piastri takes first pole in China ahead of Russellpublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time

Back on Sunday for Chinese GP from 06:00 GMTpublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time

'There will never be anyone like Eddie Jordan'published at 08:38 Greenwich Mean Time

Hadjar 'really proud' of Racing Bullspublished at 08:34 Greenwich Mean Time

'A step in the right direction' - Norrispublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time

'I'm buzzing and looking forward to tomorrow' - Russellpublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time

'I'm pumped to be on pole' - Piastripublished at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time

And the restpublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time

Top 10published at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time

Hadjar starts P7published at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time

'Great result for Russell'published at 08:07 Greenwich Mean Time

Chequered flagpublished at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time

Russell goes P2published at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time

Piastri improvespublished at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time

Verstappen stays P3published at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time

Postpublished at 07:59 Greenwich Mean Time

Postpublished at 07:58 Greenwich Mean Time

Postpublished at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time

Postpublished at 07:56 Greenwich Mean Time

Norris goes P2published at 07:54 Greenwich Mean Time

2025 Chinese Grand Prix

First Practice

Sprint Qualifying

Sprint

Qualification

Race

Watch & listen