Suspense Builds as Shanghai Hosts Formula One Sprint Qualifying

SHANGHAI, China — Formula One returns to action this weekend in Shanghai for the second round of the 2025 season. Following a thrilling opener in Australia, where McLaren‘s Lando Norris emerged victorious, teams are gearing up for a new challenge with Sprint Qualifying taking center stage.

The Shanghai International Circuit, a unique track known for its long straights and notable features, hosted its first practice session on Friday. Norris clocked a time of 1:31.504, leading the session ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished third with a time of 1:32.153.

The practice session provided limited opportunity for drivers to fine-tune their car setups, making each lap count. As the drivers wrestled with the resurfaced track, Lewis Hamilton momentarily set the pace but was ultimately surpassed by McLaren’s duo.

“The car is feeling good, and the track is quite grippy,” Norris said, reflecting on his session. “We’ll see how sprint qualifying plays out, but I think we’re in a strong position.”

This weekend also marks the debut of a modified qualifying structure, with teams skipping Free Practice 2 and 3 in favor of Sprint Qualifying. The top 20 drivers will compete for grid positions that could influence their strategy for Sunday’s main race.

As Friday’s activities unfolded, an investigation arose regarding George Russell‘s potential interference with Yuki Tsunoda during SQ1, but officials later confirmed no penalties would be issued.

“It was just racing,” Russell explained. “We’re all pushing for every tenth out there; sometimes things get tight on track.”

Meanwhile, the constructors’ championship shows a close battle between McLaren and Mercedes, each team locked on points after the Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton, renowned for his success in Shanghai, holds the record with six wins at the venue but faces a strong challenge from a McLaren outfit that appears revitalized this season.

“The pressure is on us,” Hamilton said. “Every race is critical, and we’ll give it our all to perform this weekend.”

Fans in attendance witnessed a touching moment when Zhou Guanyu, a reserve driver for Ferrari, greeted local supporters in the grandstand, receiving an enthusiastic response.

Saturday’s sprint race promises to be a spectacle, as drivers adapt to the intense format and the stakes rise. “It’s a fun dynamic, and I think the sprint races bring out exciting racing,” Verstappen noted. “I’m eager to see how it plays out.”

With clear skies and temperatures expected to reach 25°C, the environment is set for thrilling competition. The action resumes Saturday morning with Sprint Qualifying scheduled to begin at 07:30 GMT, followed by the highly anticipated sprint race.

Fans can catch all the action on ESPN and Sky Sports, as the 2025 Formula One season continues to unfold, with plenty of drama awaiting in Shanghai.