SHANGHAI: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri seized the first proper pole position of his Formula One career at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday with the fastest lap yet around the Shanghai International Circuit.
The Australian, a two-time race winner who has had sprint poles before, lapped in one minute, 30.641 seconds and was joined on the front row for Sunday’s start by George Russell after the Mercedes driver put in a storming final effort of 1:30.723.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, the winner of the season-opener in Australia and leader of the championship, abandoned his final lap and will start third with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fourth.