Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to take a Grand Prix pole position in China, as Mercedes team mate George Russell claimed second on the grid after an earlier car issue hampered him in Q3.
Antonelli beat the previous record set by Sebastian Vettel at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix, with the 19-year-old set to start at the very front for Sunday’s 56-lap race.
The Italian out-qualified Russell by 0.222s after posting a 1m 32.064s with his final effort.
Russell, who won Saturday’s Sprint, was only able to set one flying lap in the final segment of Qualifying having suffered a car issue which brought him to a halt on track briefly.
The Briton recovered back to the pits stuck in first gear, and with the problem rectified, set a single lap at the end of proceedings.
Ferrari locked-out the second row, Lewis Hamilton finishing fractionally ahead of Charles Leclerc, as Oscar Piastri headed McLaren team mate and reigning World Champion, Lando Norris.
The top 10 was completed by the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, followed by Haas’ Ollie Bearman.
Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg missed out on a spot in Q3 once again as in Australia and was joined by Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Haas’ Esteban Ocon, and the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.
Gabriel Bortoleto was P16, the Audi driver having suffered a spin at the last corner on his final effort.
Eliminated in Q1, Carlos Sainz led Williams team mate Alex Albon after another difficult session, with Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac sandwiched between the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, as Sergio Perez completed the order.
More to follow
