Lando Norris claims Chinese GP Sprint Quali Pole after controversial time reinstatement
In a dramatic F1 Chinese GP sprint qualifying session plagued by rain, Lando Norris claimed pole position for the sprint race after initially having his fastest lap deleted, only for it to be reinstated, edging out Lewis Hamilton for the top spot.
The final qualifying stage to determine the grid for Saturday's F1 sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix was disrupted by intermittent rain showers, necessitating the use of intermediate tires.
Track conditions were treacherous, with several drivers struggling for grip and running wide, including Charles Leclerc, who hit the wall but recovered to set a time.
As the session commenced, Oscar Piastri set the initial benchmark before being surpassed by Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso.
Lewis Hamilton then seized provisional pole with a 1m59.321s lap.
However, Lando Norris had posted a scintillating 1m57.940s, only for it to be inexplicably deleted, handing Hamilton the advantage momentarily.
Norris' time was reinstated late in the session, propelling him to pole position and relegating Hamilton to second on the front row for the sprint race.
Norris' reinstatement secured an all-British front row, with Hamilton lining up second.
Alonso impressed in third, ahead of Max Verstappen, who endured a few off-track moments before delivering a solid lap.
Carlos Sainz and Perez secured the third row, followed by Leclerc, Piastri, and the Alfa Romeo duo of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu rounding out the top 10.
Red Bull elected not to join the early scramble in Q2, while George Russell narrowly avoided elimination in Q1 with a last-gasp effort.
The intermittent rain showers and slippery track conditions played a crucial role in the qualifying session, with teams and drivers forced to adapt their strategies and setups accordingly.
The use of intermediate tires was mandatory, and those who could extract the most performance from the grooved rubber held a distinct advantage.
Norris' reinstatement after initially having his lap time deleted highlights the importance of accurate and consistent decision-making from race officials, as such decisions can significantly impact the outcome of a session and, consequently, the race itself.
Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying Results:
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