F1 Chinese GP live commentary and updates - Qualifying
Follow updates for qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix after George Russell won the sprint race
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"Box, box, we have an issue" is exactly the message Arvid Lindblad wasn't hoping to receive from his Racing Bulls team. But unfortunately for the rookie, he has.
That looks as though it could be the end of his session.
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Both Astons and Cadillacs are expected to be eliminated in Q1, but who joins them remains to be seen with six dropping out.
In sprint quali it was both Williams drivers in a frustrating start to the campaign for the British outfit.
The soft runners have eventually taken over though with both McLaren and Audis in the top four - Mercedes yet to set a time.
One driver on the mediums is Max Verstappen, who has set the early pace with a 1m34.490s. That's even 0.017s quicker than soft-runner Leclerc.
There's a mix of tyres being used so far as most are on the softs, but some have opted for medium rubber in the early stages of Q1.
It's a busy start to Q1 with drivers rushing out on track. Only the Mercedes pair, Audi duo and Perez are yet to hit the circuit.
Q1 is go!
Isack Hadjar was also left unimpressed by Kimi Antonelli colliding into him on the opening lap, after the Mercedes driver found himself in the lower half of the top 10 due to a poor start.
Hadjar told Canal+: “We wanted to understand how the soft was going to perform, and with a completely destroyed floor, we can’t work.”
“I don’t understand why he’s overexcited like that when he’s got a rocketship and will recover regardless… Anyway, it happens.”
While Mercedes and Ferrari enjoyed a good sprint, Red Bull didn't. Max Verstappen finished ninth with team-mate Isack Hadjar also outside of the points in 15th in what has been a troublesome weekend so far.
Verstappen told Sky Sports: “I have not a lot of words at the moment, to be honest. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Start, of course, is one problem that we have to fix, but then after that the balance is all over the place.
“Probably the highest degradation of everyone out there, which is just uncontrollable. Plus some other bits on the car that were not, I would say, well prepared. We just need to get our stuff together.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Hello everybody! Welcome back to our live commentary and this time, it is for qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
By: Ed Hardy
