The second qualifying session of the season saw a McLaren take pole, with Oscar Piastri securing his first career pole position for Sunday’s race. The Mercedes driver finished second, completing an almost perfect lap, just a few hundredths behind the Australian’s time. George Russell described his performance in China as one of the most challenging qualifying sessions of his career.
The Mercedes W16 started the season strong, scoring many points in Australia with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. The strong performances continued in Saturday’s Chinese GP qualifying, with both drivers making it to Q3. Speaking after the session, George Russell reflected on his performance with the W16 in China.
“It was truly incredible, one of the toughest qualifying sessions of my career. I tried something different with tire preparation, but nothing seemed to work. Then, on the last lap, everything changed—the car came to life, and I managed to put together a fantastic lap.”
Asked about the mechanical changes and his approach to the lap, George Russell did not provide a clear picture. “I was adjusting my out-lap speed, sometimes going faster, sometimes slower. I rolled the dice a bit. I had a big scare in Turn 1 but managed to put everything together. I was surprised when I crossed the line—I knew it was a good lap, but seeing myself between the McLarens is amazing, and I can’t wait for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow will be tough. In the Sprint, we struggled to manage the mediums, and no one has tested the hards. Over a long distance, no one really knows how they will perform or if it will be a one- or two-stop race. We know the McLarens will be fast, but we will do everything we can to stay where we are or even try to get ahead of them.” – the Mercedes driver concluded at the end of the qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix, which was held earlier today at the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit.
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