P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris took pole position in a memorable and chaotic Chinese Grand Prix F1 sprint qualifying session in the rain at Shanghai
Lando Norris clinched pole position in a chaotic Formula 1 sprint qualifying session at a rain-soaked Shanghai circuit, facing multiple challenges with his time being deleted and reinstated before securing first place on the grid. Lewis Hamilton briefly grabbed the top spot after Norris’ deletion but couldn’t maintain the position due to the Mercedes struggling earlier in the dry conditions. The session was disrupted by a grass fire linked to the cars’ sparks, causing a slight delay between segments that allowed rain to arrive, making grip scarce for all drivers. Despite the challenging conditions, Norris managed to hold onto pole, with Hamilton finishing over a second behind in second place. Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, and Sergio Perez completed the top five, while Charles Leclerc recovered from an early off to secure seventh place. The session saw several off-track excursions, including one that cost Verstappen valuable time, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the qualifying format.
