SHANGAI (CINA) (ITALPRESS) – George Russell on Mercedes in pole position in the sprint of the Grand Prix of China, second appointment of the 2026 season of Formula 1. It is 1’31′′′520 the time of the British driver, who precedes 0′′′289 teammate Kimi Antonelli, who however risks a penalty for impeding on Norris. In the second row there is Lando Norris (McLaren), third to 0′′′621, in front of Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), fourth to 0′′′641. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) opens the third row in fifth position at 0′′′704, in front of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), sixth at 1′′′008. There is Pierre Gasly (Alpine) in the seventh square at 1′′′′368 in front of Max Verstappen (Red Bull), eighth at 1′′′734.
LE DICHIARAZIONI
“From Melbourne we only worked on trying to get better off the starting line. In Australia the race was very confused in the first laps, we will see tomorrow”. So Mercedes driver, George Russell, after pole position. “The car gives fantastic sensations, after Melbourne we have a great car again, it was a joy to drive – added the British -. This track seems very fast and very different from Melbourne.”.
“I’ve done a bit of work with the substeer in qualifying. Especially in curve 1 tire to bring speed. Tomorrow I will be in the front row, it is all to play in the sprint and then again in qualifying”, adds the partner in Mercedes Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“I’m very satisfied, the team and engineers did a fantastic job, because the releases had been complicated. We lose too much in straight, we have so much work to do, we have to push Maranello a lot to improve in terms of power”. So the Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton, to the official channels of the Circus.
“A very frustrating session. I made a mistake in the first lap, in the second I was going well but I lost 4 tenth straight and we have to figure out what happened. I don’t think the new wing changes the picture of the situation. In the race we should be a bit stronger than qualifying, where Mercedes seems a step forward. We hope to reassemble tomorrow,” said Ferrari partner Charles Leclerc.
“It’s early to have a clear picture of the race. We’ll try to leave well and be close to Mercedes, then we’ll see. I’m not sure we’ve taken a big step ahead of Melbourne. We did a good job in qualifying, maybe we are a little closer to Mercedes.” So Ferrari’s main team, Frederic Vasseur, to Sky Sport microphones. “Ala ‘Macarena’? We used it in free practice and decided not to use it again to have more mileage in the next tests, so as to make a final decision,” Vasseur concluded.
“I’m happy with the result. I didn’t see where I lost or earned, but third place was the best we could get. I’m glad I got in front of the Ferraris, because they started well. Surely things went better than Melbourne because the track is a bit easier for our power unit,” said Lando Norris, third with his McLaren.
“The whole day was a disaster regarding the step. We had no grip and balance, that is the biggest problem, we lost so much in the curve: this triggered so many other problems. I don’t know what we can try to improve things this weekend.” This is the Dutch driver’s comment from Red Bull, Max Verstappen.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
