F1 2018 Chinese GP: Vettel takes pole, Sainz the best Spaniard in ninth place

The Chinese GP and the Shanghai International Circuit are home territory Mercedes, but in 2018 reality is turning out quite differently from what was expected. After four consecutive wins for the Silver Arrows of the German team, this year the big favourite for the final title is Sebastian Vettel, who has not won at this circuit since 2009, when he was still a Red Bull driver.

Vettel has secured pole position, snatching it from his team-mate Kimi Räikkönen on the final lap by just 0.08 seconds. Both Ferrari broke the circuit record, held by Hamilton since last year, and left half a second behind the two Mercedes drivers. Finland’s Valtteri Bottas took third place, and Lewis Hamilton even aborted his final lap, his last attempt, a clear sign that things are not going as expected for Mercedes, nor is the team in particularly good spirits at the moment.

Elsewhere in qualifying there were no surprises. The two Red Bulls take fifth and sixth, despite Ricciardo having mechanical problems in FP3 and the mechanics having to work flat out to get the car ready for qualifying. Germany’s Hülkenberg is sixth, Sergio Pérez put his Force India back among the top ten, and Carlos Sainz was ninth, ahead of both Haas drivers.

The Madrileño, at the wheel of his Renault, was the best Spaniard in the session, considering that Fernando Alonso once again failed to get through to Q3, as had already happened at the Sakhir circuit, and he will start from 13th place again, the same position he achieved in Bahrain. Even so, the McLaren driver believes that, with different track conditions and a good strategy, he can fight for points for a third consecutive race.

The full qualifying classification for the 2018 Chinese GP was as follows:

A reminder that this Sunday, 15 April, to follow the race you will have to get up a little earlier than usual on a Sunday, as the race starts at 8:10 in the morning, Spanish time. But for F1 fans it will be worth it, as Shanghai promises a highly interesting new duel between Ferrari and Mercedes.