McLaren Storm Back in Qualifying as Red Bull Endures a Shocking Read more……
McLaren Storm Back in Qualifying as Red Bull Endures a Shocking Exit
Oscar Piastri secured a career milestone by clinching his first-ever Formula 1 pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix, delivering a blistering performance that set a new lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit. The young Australian was in scintillating form during Saturday’s qualifying session, firmly placing his McLaren at the front of the grid for Sunday’s main race.
Adding to the drama of the session, George Russell produced a remarkable lap in the final moments to snatch a spot on the front row. The Mercedes driver’s late push knocked Lando Norris, Piastri’s McLaren teammate, down to third, despite Norris showing strong pace earlier in the session. McLaren’s impressive form came as a welcome resurgence for the team, which has been chasing consistency throughout the season.
However, while McLaren celebrated a return to form, it was a day to forget for Red Bull, particularly for reserve driver Liam Lawson. The New Zealander, who is standing in for Sergio Perez this weekend, endured another frustrating outing. After finishing at the back of the grid during Friday’s qualifying for the sprint race, Lawson once again posted the slowest time of all 20 drivers in Saturday’s qualifying for the Grand Prix.
Although Lawson managed to climb back up to 14th during the morning sprint race—offering a glimpse of hope—his inability to capitalize on that momentum in the afternoon session raised further doubts about his form under pressure. Red Bull’s surprise early elimination in qualifying marks a rare misstep for the team, typically dominant in recent seasons.
Elsewhere on the grid, Alpine’s Jack Doohan also had a disappointing qualifying session. The Australian driver, who is under scrutiny as speculation swirls about Franco Colapinto possibly replacing him next season, made matters worse by spinning off the track early in the session. That misstep compromised his ability to set a solid banker lap, leaving him languishing in 18th place on the grid and weakening his case to retain his seat with the team.
On the flip side, the Racing Bulls duo delivered a bright spot amid the chaos. Both Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda managed to navigate the tricky session successfully, securing top-10 starting positions for Sunday’s race. Their performance was a much-needed boost for the Racing Bulls outfit, which has been striving to demonstrate competitive potential in the crowded midfield battle.
With McLaren locking out key positions at the front and several unexpected names finding themselves higher up the order, Sunday’s race promises plenty of action and unpredictability. The qualifying shake-up sets the stage for an exciting Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri leading the charge and George Russell eyeing a potential challenge from the front row.
Meanwhile, questions continue to swirl around Red Bull’s strategy and the performance of their stand-in drivers, as well as the future of under-pressure talents like Doohan. With the grid turned on its head and new names making their mark, the Chinese Grand Prix could very well be one of the most compelling races of the season so far.
