Lewis Hamilton Eliminated in Q1 as Max Verstappen Claims Red Bull’s 100th Pole Position at Chinese Grand Prix

In a shocking turn of events at the Chinese Grand Prix qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, found himself eliminated in Q1 after a costly mistake at Turn 14. This mistake proved to be detrimental as Hamilton qualified in 18th place, a result he described as “pretty bad.”

Sky Sports F1’s Nico Rosberg commented that it was a “seriously painful” finish for Hamilton, highlighting the unnecessary error made by the seasoned driver. Hamilton’s misjudgment of just three meters and incorrect brake balance cost him at least four tenths, which would have easily secured him a spot in Q2.

On the other hand, Max Verstappen capitalized on Hamilton’s misfortune by claiming Red Bull’s 100th pole position. Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, finished 0.322 seconds behind him, securing a Red Bull front row lockout.

The qualifying session also saw Carlos Sainz crashing into the barrier in Q2, bringing out a red flag. Despite the incident, Sainz managed to progress to Q3 along with his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc.

Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five in qualifying, showcasing a mix of experienced and emerging talent on the grid. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate, George Russell, finished in eighth place.

The drama continued with Albon and Perez clashing early in the session, adding to the intensity of the qualifying day. Additionally, Alonso was handed a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points for causing a collision with Sainz during the sprint race.

With Verstappen securing pole position, all eyes will be on the Dutch driver as he aims to convert his qualifying success into a race win at the Chinese Grand Prix.