Oscar Piastri Claims First F1 Pole at Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI, China (AP) — McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri secured his first Formula One pole position during qualifying for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on Saturday, March 22. The 23-year-old Australian’s impressive performance placed him ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell, setting the stage for an exciting race on Sunday.

Piastri’s achievement marks a significant milestone in his career as he aims for victory in the Grand Prix, which begins at 3 p.m. local time on March 23. He expressed enthusiasm about his qualifying result, stating, “I’m pretty pumped to go one better Sunday, with the major challenge being tire wear.” Piastri, who finished second in the sprint qualifying earlier that day, added that he took risks on his final Q3 lap to secure the top spot.

Following Piastri on the grid is fellow McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who will start from third position. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, a serious contender for the title, qualified fourth. Meanwhile, Ferrari‘s Lewis Hamilton, who won the sprint race, will start from fifth position, showcasing a turn-around from his poor debut with the team in Australia.

Russell, who has qualified on the front row for the 15th time, shared his excitement about the session. “To be on the front row is a really great place to start,” he said. Russell’s qualifying was a personal challenge, as he navigated tire management throughout the session. He described the final lap as one of the hardest of his career, rallying back from P5 on his last attempt. “I found four-tenths on my last lap,” he noted.

Norris reflected on his performance, expressing frustration at his mistakes during the crucial qualifying rounds. “Oscar’s shown great pace. I definitely haven’t,” he admitted, highlighting the struggles he faced with tire graining.

In a notable aspect of this weekend, the rookie driver Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls qualified in seventh position, appearing to redeem himself after crashing out in Australia. The grid is rounded out with Kimi Antonelli in eighth for Mercedes, followed by Yuki Tsunoda of AlphaTauri and Alex Albon of Williams, completing the top ten.

Piastri’s accomplishment is a momentous occasion for Australia, being the first Australian pole sitter since Daniel Ricciardo in Mexico in 2018. “It’s nice to do for myself, but it is also nice to do it for Australia as well,” he remarked.

Fans worldwide are eager for the race, which promises to deliver adrenaline and excitement from start to finish, particularly with the Sprint weekend format adding an extra layer of competition. Broadcast details reveal the race will be available live on ESPN in the U.S. for viewers to witness this pivotal moment in Piastri’s career.