Max Verstappen Claims Red Bull’s 100th F1 Pole Position as Hamilton Suffers Shock Exit

Max Verstappen secured Red Bull’s 100th F1 pole position in a dominant display during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton suffered a shock early exit and will start 18th on the grid. Verstappen extended his pole position streak to five at the start of the 2024 season, with his teammate Sergio Perez alongside him on the front row.

Hamilton’s disappointing qualifying session saw him make a crucial mistake on his final attempt in Q1, locking up under braking and running wide at the hairpin. This error resulted in Hamilton failing to progress to Q2, marking his worst qualifying performance in two years.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin impressed with a provisional second place before being bumped down to third by Perez. McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had taken pole for the Sprint race, qualified fourth ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri.

Ferrari, who had been strong challengers to Red Bull in previous races, struggled in qualifying with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz only managing sixth and seventh respectively. However, Leclerc remained optimistic about their race pace and the potential for a competitive performance on Sunday.

The top 10 was rounded out by George Russell of Mercedes, Nico Hulkenberg of Haas, and Valtteri Bottas of Sauber. Daniel Ricciardo continued his strong form by outqualifying his Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who ended up in 19th place.

Verstappen’s pole-winning lap was over three-tenths faster than Perez, reaffirming Red Bull’s dominance in dry conditions. The Dutch driver expressed his satisfaction with the car’s performance and his own driving, setting the stage for a potential fourth win in five races.

The Chinese Grand Prix is set to take place on Sunday at 8am, with live coverage on Sky Sports F1. Fans can expect an exciting race as Verstappen looks to extend his lead in the championship standings.