Chinese Grand Prix: Confirmed starting grid after ALL driver penalties

Triple world champion Max Verstappen took pole position on Saturday for the Chinese Grand Prix, 0.322 seconds ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso third.

Verstappen clocked a fastest lap of 1:33.660 to cap a perfect day after earlier cruising to a sprint race victory at the Shanghai International Circuit.”

Lando Norris will start on the second row in his McLaren alongside Alonso for Sunday’s race, the first grand prix to be held in China since 2019 because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

Oscar Piastri was fifth fastest in the second McLaren ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, with George Russell’s Mercedes eighth.

Perez only got through to Q2 on his final flying lap and was relieved to be on the front row.

It was a dominant day for the Dutchman who overcame electrical gremlins to blast from fourth on the grid to an emphatic victory in the morning sprint, 13 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

The win increased his championship lead over team-mate Perez to 25 points.

Sunday’s race will start at 09:00 (SA time).

Starting grid for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix:

1st row

Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)

2nd row

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)

3rd row

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)

Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)

4th row

Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

5th row

Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber)

6th row

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/RB)

7th row

Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine)

Alexander Albon (THA/Williams)

8th row

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)

Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber)

9th row

Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)

10th row

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB)

Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams)