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Norris Beats Hamilton to Pole in Dramatic Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying
Alonso Third, Verstappen Fourth
Shanghai, China (March 24, 2024) - Lando Norris of McLaren pulled off a stunning upset on Saturday, capturing pole position for the Formula 1 sprint at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai under treacherous wet conditions.
Norris, who had finished a disappointing 16th in the regular qualifying session on Friday, showed incredible composure in the three-window sprint qualifying format. Despite the rain, he set blistering pace times, eventually eclipsing defending world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes to claim the coveted top spot.
Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin Racing finished a respectable third, ahead of Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who could only manage fourth.
The shortened qualifying session, which is designed to provide an exciting prelude to Saturday's sprint race, proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions. Norris appeared to be on course to set the fastest time in the final window, but ultimately decided to abort his lap in the closing minutes, seemingly sacrificing an assured front-row start.
However, Norris' calculated risk paid off handsomely as the rain intensified, leaving Hamilton and Verstappen with no time to improve their own performances. The Briton's pole position sets him up as a strong contender for victory in the sprint race, which will determine the starting grid for the main event on Sunday.
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