F1 Qualifying Results: McLaren roar back as Red Bull su…read more
In a surprising turn of events at the Chinese Grand Prix, McLaren delivered an outstanding performance during Saturday’s qualifying session, with Oscar Piastri clinching his maiden Formula 1 pole position. The young Australian driver not only claimed the top spot on the grid for Sunday’s feature race but did so in dominant fashion, setting a brand-new lap record at the historic Shanghai International Circuit. Piastri’s achievement signals a major boost for McLaren, who have been steadily improving their pace throughout the season.
Adding to the excitement, George Russell of Mercedes pulled off a stunning late charge in the closing moments of the session to snatch second place on the grid. His quick lap saw him leapfrog the second McLaren of Lando Norris, who had looked poised to join his teammate on the front row. Norris ultimately settled for third, giving McLaren a strong foothold at the sharp end of the grid as they look to challenge for victory in Sunday’s main race.
The qualifying session proved to be full of drama, but the biggest shock came from the Red Bull camp. Red Bull, the team that has dominated much of the modern hybrid era of Formula 1, found themselves unexpectedly on the back foot. Liam Lawson, who has been standing in for the injured Sergio Perez, continued his rough start in the senior team. The New Zealander ended up qualifying last out of all 20 drivers, repeating the struggles he faced just a day earlier.
Lawson had shown some promise earlier in the weekend, making up ground during Saturday morning’s sprint race where he climbed from the back to finish 14th. That spirited drive provided a glimmer of hope that qualifying would bring better fortunes. However, when it came time for the all-important Saturday afternoon qualifying session, things unraveled once more for Lawson. The rookie appeared to lack confidence in the car and couldn’t extract the pace needed to advance beyond Q1, resulting in another disappointing P20 finish on the grid.
Red Bull’s woes weren’t limited to just Lawson. The usually dominant outfit looked out of sorts throughout qualifying, with their car appearing less competitive on the Shanghai track layout than in previous rounds. The Chinese Grand Prix, returning to the calendar after a few years of absence, has traditionally been a venue where tire management and setup precision play crucial roles. This time, however, it was McLaren and Mercedes who seemed to have unlocked the secrets of the circuit, leaving Red Bull scrambling for answers.
The surprise pole for Piastri marks a significant milestone in his young career. The Australian has shown flashes of brilliance since his debut in Formula 1, but this marks his first time starting from the very front of the grid. His pole lap, which shattered the existing track record, underscores both his growing maturity as a driver and the strides McLaren has made with their car development this season.
Russell’s late surge to P2 also highlights Mercedes’ continued determination to claw their way back to the top after a difficult start to the 2025 season. His performance ensures that McLaren will not have an uncontested run into Turn 1 on Sunday, setting the stage for what could be a thrilling battle at the front.
Lando Norris, though bumped down to third, will still be encouraged by McLaren’s strong showing overall. With both cars starting inside the top three, McLaren is in a prime position to mount a serious challenge for victory and potentially disrupt the usual Red Bull dominance that has characterized recent seasons.
As for Red Bull, they will be hoping for a turnaround come race day. While Lawson faces an uphill battle starting from the back, all eyes will be on whether the team can regroup and recover during Sunday’s feature race. Regardless, the Chinese Grand Prix has already delivered its fair share of surprises, and the grid is now set for what promises to be an action-packed contest.
