- Hamilton knocked out in Q1 and 18th after error
- World champion follows sprint win with first in qualifying
Max Verstappen took pole position for the first Chinese Grand Prix since 2019. It was business as usual for the world champion but Lewis Hamilton endured a shocker in Shanghai, knocked out in Q1, the seven-time champion will start Sunday’s race 18th on the grid.
It was a stark turnaround for Hamilton after he had enjoyed a feisty sprint race, claiming second place earlier in the day. Verstappen had taken the flag to win the first of six sprints this season, coming back from fourth to beat Hamilton, who had led for the opening half of the race but was ultimately powerless against the pace of the Red Bull at the Shanghai International circuit.