Relive the qualifying of the Chinese Grand Prix with live commentary

After the Sprint break, it's time for the real Chinese Grand Prix with the qualifications for this second round of the 2025 season. F1 to follow live with commentary from 8:00 a.m. this Saturday.

Like Australia, McLaren remains the favorite team for the Chinese Grand Prix for pole position despite mixed Sprint qualifying on Friday where Lewis Hamilton signed his first "coup d'éclat" with Ferrari before winning this Saturday morning. We will also have to keep an eye on Max Verstappen which seems to be the main rival of Lando Norris et Oscar piastri on a lap and in the race at the start of the season as he showed last weekend in Melbourne.

Chinese GP Qualifying Standings Live

F1 – Chinese GP
Live qualifying commentary

9:04 AM – 🏁 This concludes our live commentary of the Chinese Grand Prix qualifying rounds. Thank you for joining us, and we'll see you again this Sunday at 8:00 AM to follow the race with us. In the meantime, head to our website to find all the reactions and analysis of these qualifying rounds. Have a great Saturday, everyone!

9:00 a.m. – 🏁 No improvement for Verstappen, Norris cuts his effort and it's pole position for Piastri who improves by 62 thousandths! First career pole position for the Australian who is ahead of Russell who put in a huge last lap to finish just 82 thousandths behind. Norris is 3rd, Verstappen 4th and Hamilton 5th. Great performance from Hadjar, 7th and ahead of his teammate tsunoda 

8:56 a.m. – With everyone back in the pit lane to prepare for the final attempts and less than 5 minutes remaining, here's an update on the standings:

8h52 - Piastri responds in 1'30“703 and is more than 2 tenths behind Verstappen. A great performance from Hadjar, currently 6th and especially ahead of his teammate Tsunoda. Meanwhile, Norris has moved up to 2nd position, 0“090 behind Piastri.

8h51 - Verstappen sets the first benchmark of this Q3: 1'30“925 but this risks being beaten

8:50 a.m. – 💨 Albon reports on the radio an increase in wind speed

8:48 a.m. – 🟢 Time for Q3 with 12 minutes left on the clock. Who will be the poleman for the 2025 edition? Will we have a different sixth consecutive poleman? The answer in a few moments

8:44 – 💬 A reaction of gasly, eliminated in Q1, on Canal +: “ Unfortunately, we are lacking a little performance. We will have to try to work. (With Lawson) In terms of time, we were a bit limited, so my instructions were to go straight there and try to do a lap. I tried to do my best to make sure we got the last lap. After that, I was just behind Antonelli for my lap… These are things to review, I think we have a bit of work to do to find more performance, because it's very tight. »

8:41 AM – 🏁 It doesn’t work for Sainz, only 15th and still struggling with the Williams in China. The Madrilenian is joined by Stroll, Alonso, Hulkenberg et Or withGood news up front, Hadjar will be in Q3 after setting the 4th fastest time behind Piastri, Verstappen and Norris

8h39 - There will be no better time for Ferrari. 6th and 7th times for Leclerc and Hamilton, 6 and 7 tenths behind Norris.

8h37 - Antonelli is already cutting his effort. The Italian missed his chance in this first, very unusual corner of the Chinese circuit. The driver Mercedes will have to do another preparation lap to get back on track. He is currently 6th

8h33 - After the first laps, Norris was in the clear lead, with a lead of 4 tenths over the rest of the field. Piastri, Verstappen, Russell and Tsunoda followed in the top 5. Hamilton and Leclerc were 7th and 9th, but the Ferrari drivers were on well-worn tires. Behind them, Stroll, Ocon, Hadjar, Alonso and Sainz were provisionally eliminated.

8h31 - The first lap times are coming in with Russell leading in 1'31"307 but immediately beaten by Piastri and then Norris who officially beats the circuit record in 1'30"787. It's already going fast!

8h28 - As for Lawson, who failed to improve, he was apparently hindered by Gasly, who made a pass in the final corner as the Kiwi was coming in at full speed. This forced him to lock his tires and meant he was unable to do better than 20th.

8:26 a.m. – 🟢 There's a lot of activity at the end of pit lane, and that's a good sign. Q2 is underway in Shanghai.

8:19 a.m. – 🏁 A great end to Q1 with Racing Bulls in full swing as Tsunoda and Hadjar took turns in first place, which finally went to Norris in 1'30"983. As for the eliminated drivers, bad news for the French team as Gasly finished 16th and first eliminated at the end of this Q1. Bearman, Doohan, Bortoleto and Lawson, still 20th and last, are the others affected by this elimination

8h15 - With three minutes left and everyone preparing for their final fast lap, here's an update on the standings. Ocon, Gasly, Sainz, Lawson and Doohan are provisionally eliminated:

8h13 - Leclerc is in difficulty with only the 10th time, more than 6 tenths of a second behind Verstappen and almost 4 behind Hamilton. Meanwhile, Norris climbs back to 6th place, half a second behind Verstappen.

8:12 a.m. – With 6 minutes left in Q1, Antonelli Lawson, Doohan, Leclerc and Norris are provisionally eliminated, but things are obviously going to change.

8h09 - Two sectors in green and the last in purple for Verstappen who sets the benchmark in this Q1 in 1'31“424

8h07 - 🔄 Doohan under pressure? The Aussie made a mistake at Turn 9 and spun

8h06 - Norris took the lead in 1'32"036 but was immediately beaten by Hamilton and Piastri. The Australian moved up to the top in 1'31"591

8h04 - Sainz completed his first attempt in 1:33, quite far behind Hulkenberg, more than 012 tenths of a second. For the moment, these seem more like warm-up laps.

8h02 - Rosberg, Hamilton, Hag, Bottas and Verstappen… 5 polemen in the last 5 editions of the Chinese GP? Will we have a 6th this year? The answer in about an hour

8:00 a.m. – 🟢 The light turns green at the end of pit lane. Qualifying is underway. 18 minutes left in Q1!

7h54 - ☀️ Weather-wise, the sun is out in Shanghai with 40°C on the ground and 26°C in the air

7h49 - If you weren't up for the 4:00am Sprint Race, here's a quick recap of Hamilton's win (sorry if there are any spoilers):

China – Sprint: Lewis Hamilton emerges as boss

7h45 - 👋 Hello everyone! Welcome to this live commentary to follow the qualifying rounds of the Chinese GP, the second round of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The green light will be given in a few minutes, at 8:00 a.m.!

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