Norris takes sprint race pole from Hamilton at Chinese Grand Prix

Norris takes sprint race pole from Hamilton at Chinese Grand Prix

The McLaren driver went to the top of the timesheets in the final seconds with a time of 1:57.940s.

Briton Lando Norris steers his car during a wet and chaotic sprint qualifying session at the Shanghai International Circuit. (AP pic)
SHANGHAI:
McLaren’s Lando Norris seized pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race today after a wet and chaotic qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Mercedes’ seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton made it an all-British front row, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso lining up third.

Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen will start only fourth after twice going off in the final top 10 shootout, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz fifth and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez sixth.

Hamilton appeared to have secured the pole for tomorrow’s points scoring 100km race but Norris went to the top of the timesheets in the final seconds with a time of 1:57.940s.

The younger Briton then had the lap deleted, putting Hamilton back on provisional pole with a lap of 1:59.201, before it was reinstated moments later.

“It was (wild),” said Norris of the slippery conditions.

“It was good fun, it gets your heart going. A nice surprise and a good position for tomorrow.”

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