F1 Sprint Qualifying Results: Lewis Hamilton on pole as Red Bull star to start last at Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton took a stunning pole position in sprint qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix, with he and long-time rival Max Verstappen locking the heavily favoured McLarens out of the front row of the grid.

Sprint Results: Lewis Hamilton fights off Max Verstappen for epic Ferrari victory at Chinese Grand Prix

A mistake from Lando Norris meant that last weekend's race winner will start just sixth on Saturday, getting nowhere near Hamilton's all-time track record lap time.

Liam Lawson was eliminated from the first part of the session - and worse, the New Zealander, in his first full season in the sport, will start dead last on Saturday morning after a disastrous start to his weekend.

George Russell looked as though could be in a spot of bother after being noted by the stewards for potentially impeding Yuki Tsunoda coming out of the penultimate corner, but stewards decided they would take no further action.

The Williams of Carlos Sainz dropped out in SQ2, a blow for the British team after showing good pace in Bahrain and Australia.

F1 Sprint Qualifying Results: Chinese Grand Prix 2025

1. Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] - 1:30.849sec
2. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - +0.018sec
3. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] - +0.080sec
4. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - +0.208sec
5. George Russell [Mercedes] - +0.320sec
6. Lando Norris [McLaren] - +0.544sec
7. Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] - +0.889sec
8. Yuki Tsunoda [Racing Bulls] - +0.924sec
9. Alex Albon [Williams] - +1.003sec
10. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] - +1.133sec

ELIMINATED IN SQ2

11. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin]
12. Ollie Bearman [Haas]
13. Carlos Sainz [Williams]
14. Gabriel Bortoleto [Sauber]
15. Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls]

ELIMINATED IN SQ1

16. Jack Doohan [Alpine]
17. Pierre Gasly [Alpine]
18. Esteban Ocon [Haas]
19. Nico Hulkenberg [Sauber]
20. Liam Lawson [Red Bull]

How does F1 Sprint Qualifying work?

The sprint qualifying session is split into three finite windows, which provide a dramatic prelude to Saturday's short race.

The bottom five drivers are eliminated at the end of SQ1, with a further five eliminated after SQ2.

Then, SQ3 gives us a shootout between the remaining 10 drivers in the battle for positions at the front of the grid.

F1 HEADLINES: Lewis Hamilton set for Chinese GP battle as star subject to FIA inspection

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Toto Wolff reacts to Max Verstappen signing with huge F1 silly season claim

• 1 hour ago

F1 Monaco Grand Prix result could change AGAIN as Red Bull and McLaren begin FIA court battle

• Yesterday 23:30

F1 Odds: Bad news for Lewis Hamilton as 2026 title race takes a new twist

• Today 17:27

Max Verstappen reveals bleak Red Bull diagnosis after Dutch Grand Prix disaster

• Today 15:30

McLaren boss says Monaco Grand Prix result appeal is about the 'integrity' of F1

• 57 minutes ago

Ferrari F1 boss explains controversial Lewis Hamilton strategy decisions

• 3 hours ago