Lando Norris secures pole position for the Chinese GP sprint

Lando Norris, from the McLaren team, managed to secure first place for the sprint race of the Chinese Grand Prix after a dramatic turn of events that included the reinstatement of a previously deleted time of 1m57.940s, thus surpassing Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

The weather played a crucial role in the final qualifying session, with rain starting during SQ2 and persisting, leading teams to opt for intermediate tires. This decision was taken as a precautionary measure due to the slippery track, evidenced by multiple drivers going off track. A notable incident was that of Charles Leclerc, who collided with a wall but managed to continue after some adjustments to his vehicle.

The session began with Oscar Piastri setting a time that was soon surpassed by Sergio Perez. Fernando Alonso also showcased his prowess temporarily leading the table before Lewis Hamilton set a precedent with a time of under two minutes.

Despite a setback on a previous lap, Norris achieved an impressive time of 1m57.940s, initially placing him at the top before his time was inexplicably deleted and then restored, thus securing his leadership position.

Behind Norris and Hamilton, Fernando Alonso secured third place, closely followed by Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who demonstrated skill in challenging conditions. Carlos Sainz and Perez occupied significant positions, and Leclerc managed to stay in the competition despite the challenges.

At the back, George Russell and Kevin Magnussen had notable performances, despite the difficulties presented by the weather. Qualifying was a challenge for all drivers but proved to be particularly impactful in the final stages.