P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 Chinese GP: Norris takes sprint pole amid deleted times confusion
Rain made an appearance towards the end of the second session of qualifying in Shanghai and persisted through the break, forcing the switch to intermediate tires for the final section to determine pole position. The track became extremely slippery, leading to several drivers going off-track and having to recover, with Charles Leclerc even hitting the wall after a spin. Lewis Hamilton ultimately secured pole with a blistering time, followed by Lando Norris, setting up an all-British front row for the upcoming sprint race. Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen completed the top four positions, while some drivers, like Oscar Piastri and Sergio Perez, faced challenges with their performances. SQ1 also saw tense moments, with George Russell narrowly escaping elimination, and Pierre Gasly failing to advance to the next round, joining Esteban Ocon and others in being knocked out early.
