07:34
Verstappen sets the pace
A 1m32.329s for Verstappen, 0.5s ahead of Hadjar.
Charles Leclerc
2025 F1 Chinese Grand Prix - Sprint Qualifying - As it happened
A recap of what happened in F1 sprint qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix
21 Mar 2025
07:31
SQ1 is underway
All drivers must run on the medium tyres in SQ1.
07:25
Which teams have upgrades?
Only one of the top four team has introduced an upgrade for this weekend
Isack Hadjar
07:05
We're building up to sprint qualifying
Sprint qualifying gets underway at 7:30am UK time.
But what is the format?
Like conventional qualifying, it's split up into three parts.
SQ1 - Mediums (12 minutes)
SQ2 - Mediums (10 minutes)
SQ3 - Softs (8 minutes)
04:44
Norris sets the pace in FP1
A strong start by Norris ahead of sprint qualifying later today. He set the pace in first practice ahead of Charles Leclerc
Lando Norris
04:34
FP1 results
| 2025 F1 Chinese Grand Prix - Free Practice Results (1) | ||||
| Pos | Driver | Nat. | Team | Time |
| 1 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren F1 Team | 1m31.504s |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m31.958s |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren F1 Team | 1m32.153s |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1m32.195s |
| 5 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m32.377s |
| 6 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m32.507s |
| 7 | Alex Albon | THA | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m32.687s |
| 8 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m32.766s |
| 9 | Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team | 1m32.874s |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m32.934s |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m32.967s |
| 12 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team | 1m32.984s |
| 13 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1m33.056s |
| 14 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m33.123s |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1m33.145s |
| 16 | Max Verstappen | NED | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m33.284s |
| 17 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | 1m33.385s |
| 18 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1m33.631s |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1m33.822s |
| 20 | Jack Doohan | AUS | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1m33.923s |
04:31
Mighty lap from Norris
A 1m31.504s to go 0.4s ahead of Leclerc. Ominous.
04:30
Chequered flag
Norris is improving and on course to top practice here.
04:26
Leclerc goes fastest
A 1m32.103s for Leclerc, putting him 0.2s ahead of Russell.
Hamilton then slots into second, 0.092s behind his teammate.
04:22
FP1 back underway
It will be a busy end to the session with all the drivers wanting to try out the softs.
04:17
Red flag
Doohan has stopped out on track. A technical issue for the Alpine.
04:16
Just 15 minutes to go
Russell, Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Antonelli, Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Tsunoda and Albon.
04:10
A spin for Leclerc
He loses control of his Ferrari through the opening sequence of corners. No damage done, though.
04:06
Leclerc improves
Leclerc improves but stays in second - 0.324s off Russell's top time.
04:05
Class from Aston Martin - respect for their roots and the man who established the foundation from which they’ve risen. pic.twitter.com/6H124qyt8E
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) March 21, 2025
04:00
Into the final 30 minutes
Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Antonelli, Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Sainz, Tsunoda and Albon is the current top 10.
03:58
Verstappen on track in FP1
Max
03:51
Order after 20 minutes
Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Antonelli, Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Sainz, Albon and Alonso.
03:48
Leclerc on top
The order continues to change as drivers get up to speed this morning. Leclerc is the first driver into the 1m32s.
03:45
Russell improves
Russell lowers the benchmark again to a 1m33.017s to go 0.2s ahead of Hamilton.
03:44
Hamilton goes P1
A good time from Hamilton to go fastest now with a 1m33.224s.
03:42
Piastri
Piastri makes it a McLaren 1-2 as he sets a 1m33.336s - 0.026s between the two McLarens.
03:40
Current top 10
Norris, Russell, Verstappen, Leclerc, Hamilton, Gasly, Alonso, Sainz, Doohan and Tsunoda.
03:40
Quick time from Norris
He storms to the top now with a 1m33.362s, less than a tenth ahead of Russell.
03:39
Verstappen lowers the benchmark
It's a 1m33.949s for Verstappen to put him ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton.
