From Shanghai
Italy thanks Andrea Kimi Antonelli, finding an Italian on pole position after 17 years. The driver from Bologna takes advantage of an unbeatable Mercedes on a single lap, showing psychological strength in bouncing back after the Sprint errors. The morning race also confirms a Ferrari closer to the Silver Arrows over the long distance, with the possibility for the Prancing Horse to put pressure in the race, where, in addition to energy, managing the tires will be important.
Read more Shanghai: Ferrari shows the best downforce but Mercedes is unbeatable in qualifying
Antonelli’s first pole
It is a great qualifying session for Antonelli, fighting on the edge of a hundredth with his teammate already in Q1 and Q2. In the decisive session, then, the unexpected happens, an electrical problem that forces Russell to return to the pits. Mercedes manages to send the Briton back on track, however completing the out-lap with little time and with the traffic of those who are pushing, compromising the preparation of tires and battery and finishing with a gap of 2 decimi. In any case, for the good things shown throughout the session, the impression is that Kimi could have played for it even if his teammate had been free of problems, although none of that matters.
Champions are also recognized by seizing opportunities when they arise, something Antonelli does not fail to do, driving in a consistent and precise manner, fundamental for not disorienting the energy management software. Kimi is entitled to dream ahead of the race, after showing good pace in the Sprint and even earlier in Australia. The Italian has tire management as one of his strengths, highlighted by those who have access to his data. The important thing for him will be to manage all the start procedures well and redeem himself from the 2 errors at the start of the short race, and then try to compete not only with Russell, but also with the Ferraris.
Ferrari aims for the race
This time Ferrari manages to put everything together, monopolizing the second row. The fastest is once again Lewis Hamilton, always at ease on the Chinese track, as well as reinvigorated both in driving and morale. Alongside him will start Charles Leclerc, who in qualifying chooses to change approach compared to the previous day, treasuring the lessons learned. The Ferrari driver understood that the new machines, extremely sensitive in energy management to every change in throttle use, stifle the courage to dare on a single lap, rewarding a more consistent pace in the various elimination rounds: “One of my strengths was that in Q3 I took huge risks to squeeze out something more. Now when you do that, you confuse the power unit and lose more than you gain, as happened to me yesterday.”
The Monegasque consoles himself with the feeling of having a setup more favorable to the race, where Ferrari will be able to exploit the second row to maximize the advantage at the start. Over the long distance, a gap remains between the SF-26 and the Mercedes, but in any case smaller than on the single lap. Part of the credit goes to the engine concept, more geared towards torque than absolute power, which helps when the car is heavier and exits corners slower. The gap in qualifying, however, tells of a Ferrari that by intervening on the setup managed to get closer to Mercedes even on the single lap, although other factors add to the merits of the Prancing Horse.
Read more Leclerc: “In the race Mercedes are ahead by 3-4 tenths. But unlike 2025 we can do something”
McLaren gets closer, Red Bull does not
Russell’s problem leaves doubt about what the potential of the Mercedes could have been in his hands, while not appearing in the same form as the day before, complaining of understeer. Already in Q1 and Q2, moreover, the impression is of a general closing of the gap by the competition to the Silver Arrows, partly due to track evolution, but also due to the general adjustment in energy management. In Friday’s qualifying, many had been caught off guard by the big jump from the medium to the soft compound in Q3, higher than expectations and such as to throw off energy strategies.
It is the image of a Formula 1 where teams learn and progress day by day, as well as from one weekend to the next. McLaren is a witness to this, having improved in the exploitation of the Mercedes power unit, according to Andrea Stella. The Team Principal admits that a good part of the MCL40’s delay lies in cornering performance, saying he is confident of being able to close it with developments. Piastri hopes for a 2023-style comeback and unlike that year, McLaren now would not need to overturn the basic concept. “The car is a solid base. If anything, it is underdeveloped,” says Stella.
Who appears even more in crisis is Red Bull, both in qualifying and in the Sprint race, where the RB22 is a victim of graining. The team takes advantage of the reopening of parc fermé to make many changes to the setup, but Verstappen still continues to define the car as undriveable and not only because of the power unit delivery: “It’s a bit nervous from the engine point of view, but it’s not the biggest aspect. I can’t push at all, the car doesn’t allow me to. I’m not really in control of the car.”
Towards the race
Attention now shifts to the race, with the possibility for everyone to put into practice what was learned in the Sprint, starting from how to approach the formation lap. The key will be the management of the front left tire, afflicted by graining that has shown no sign of decreasing over the weekend. Russell remains the number one candidate for victory, but, between Antonelli and the Ferraris, China could offer a pleasant Italian dawn.
