Macau Grand Prix: Vips wins qualifying race, rivals caught in pile-up

It was a near-perfect race for Vips, who avoided giving away the slipstream into Lisboa on the first lap before controlling the remainder of the 10-lap affair.

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He managed to keep second-placed Robert Shwartzman just out of DRS range, the final gap to the Russian 1.5 seconds at the finish.

"I didn't want to take full risk at the beginning," said Vips. "The track changes overnight, so you couldn't immediately be at 100%.

"You had to build it up a little bit. It's never really perfect, but there were no mistakes.

"I didn't expect starting from pole to be the best thing, but I really got a mega start and Robert didn't get the best one. I think that's why I led into the first braking zone.

"I think if people around me get a good start tomorrow it'll be a bit harder, but I'll try my best."

Prema driver Shwartzman admitted he did not quite have enough to take the fight to Hitech Grand Prix's Vips.

"It wasn't the best, but it wasn't bad. It definitely wasn't as good as Juri's start," said Shwartzman.

"Juri was quick at the beginning, he built the gap. Towards the end I started to catch him, but it wasn't enough to get into the DRS."

A fast start set up a surprising podium for ART's Christian Lundgaard, who finished a lonely third.

Dutchman Richard Verschoor finished fourth, making one of very few passing moves at the front of the field on Callum Ilott at Lisboa with two laps to go.

Dan Ticktum faces an uphill battle to win a third straight Macau GP, after the Briton was caught up in a costly first-lap clash at Lisboa.

The crash started when Carlin's Logan Sargeant clipped Arjun Maini, whose Jenzer-run car was subsequently fired into the wall.

That left a number of cars with nowhere to go, putting Jake Hughes out on the spot, while Ticktum, who was launched into the air, had to pit for repairs.

He managed to get to the finish, but was classified 27th and two laps down.

Race result