McLaren’s Strong Performance in F1 Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix, with a Shock Early…read more
In an exciting and surprising turn of events during the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri claimed his first-ever pole position, setting a new lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Australian driver’s remarkable performance not only secured him the top spot for Sunday’s feature race but also showcased McLaren’s remarkable resurgence, marking a strong challenge to the more established teams.
Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, was in contention for the pole as well, but he was ultimately edged out, falling to third place after a last-minute effort by Mercedes’ George Russell. Russell’s excellent lap time at the tail end of the session placed him in second, just 0.082 seconds behind Piastri, and pushed Norris down into third. Despite this, McLaren’s performance was undoubtedly impressive, with both cars starting in the top three, a clear sign of their growing competitiveness in the 2025 season.
Red Bull, the dominant force in recent years, experienced an unexpected and disappointing setback. Max Verstappen, the two-time world champion, secured fourth place, but it was the performance of their new driver, Liam Lawson, that grabbed attention for all the wrong reasons. Lawson, who had struggled throughout the weekend, was eliminated early in Q1, securing the 20th position. This marked his second consecutive shock result after qualifying in the bottom spot during the previous day’s sprint race. Lawson’s troubles at Red Bull have raised concerns about his future with the team, with the young New Zealander yet to find his footing at the top level of motorsport.
In other notable performances, Mercedes saw both of their drivers qualifying near the front, with Russell’s second-place finish and Kimi Antonelli, the rising star, ending up eighth. The team is continuing to make strides this season, showing competitiveness across various race weekends. Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari this season, also had a strong showing, finishing in fifth, with teammate Charles Leclerc just behind him in sixth. The two Ferrari drivers continue to show promise, with Hamilton particularly eager to challenge for race wins in his new surroundings.
A strong performance also came from Racing Bulls, a team that has gained some attention this season. Isack Hadjar finished in seventh, and Yuki Tsunoda took the ninth spot, both placing in the top 10 during qualifying. Their results were a pleasant surprise, with many expecting them to be further down the grid. Hadjar and Tsunoda will look to carry this momentum into the race, aiming for valuable points in what has been an unpredictable season.
At the back of the grid, several notable drivers faced disappointment. Esteban Ocon of Haas was eliminated in Q2, finishing in 11th, and Nico Hülkenberg of Sauber also found himself knocked out, finishing in 12th. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll suffered early exits, as did Williams’ Carlos Sainz, all finishing outside the top 10 after the Q2 session. These drivers will now have to focus on making the most of their race strategies and hoping for some on-track drama to improve their positions.
In Q1, several drivers were eliminated, with Pierre Gasly, Ollie Bearman, and Jack Doohan among those who failed to make it through. Gasly and Doohan, in particular, will be disappointed with their performances, with Doohan spinning off the track and damaging his chances for a solid qualifying result. The Alpine driver will have to work hard in the race to recover from his 18th-place starting position. Meanwhile, Lawson’s performance at the back of the grid continues to be a major talking point for Red Bull, and it remains to be seen how much longer the team will tolerate such struggles from their rookie driver.
The qualifying session itself is structured in three segments: Q1, Q2, and Q3. In Q1, the bottom five drivers are eliminated, followed by another set of eliminations in Q2, where the next five slowest drivers are knocked out. The remaining 10 drivers then go head-to-head in Q3 to fight for the best starting positions on the grid. Saturday’s qualifying session provided plenty of drama, with surprise results, particularly in the form of McLaren’s strong showing and Red Bull’s shock exit, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling race on Sunday.
F1 Qualifying Results: Chinese Grand Prix 2025
Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – 1:30.641sec
George Russell [Mercedes] – +0.082sec
Lando Norris [McLaren] – +0.152sec
Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +0.176sec
Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] – +0.286sec
Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +0.380sec
Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls] – +0.438sec
Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +0.462sec
Yuki Tsunoda [Racing Bulls] – +0.997sec
Alex Albon [Williams] – +1.065sec
ELIMINATED IN Q2
11. Esteban Ocon [Haas]
12. Nico Hülkenberg [Sauber]
13. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin]
14. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin]
15. Carlos Sainz [Williams]
ELIMINATED IN Q1
16. Pierre Gasly [Alpine]
17. Ollie Bearman [Haas]
18. Jack Doohan [Alpine]
19. Gabriel Bortoleto [Sauber]
20. Liam Lawson [Red Bull]
As the Chinese Grand Prix weekend continues, it is clear that McLaren’s revival is real, while Red Bull faces unexpected challenges, adding another layer of intrigue to the 2025 season.
