Lando Norris’s final lap time was reinstated, allowing him to claim the pole for the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race in wet weather.
The rain began in the closing stages of Q2 and was heavy when the final ten cars returned to the track in Q3, causing issues for several competitors, including three-time World Champion Max Verstappen.
Norris’s 1m57.940s set as the chequered flag flew was initially deleted after the McLaren driver ran wide at the final corner on his penultimate lap as he entered the straight.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was at the top once all times had come in but was relegated to second as race control reinstated Norris’s time.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounds out the top three, leaving Verstappen fourth after aborting two earlier flying laps, having struggled in the conditions.
Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez lockout the third row, ahead of seventh-placed Charles Leclerc, who was the first victim of the conditions at Turn 8 in Q3, spinning and hitting the wall before returning to pit lane for a new front wing and intermediate tyres.
Australian Oscar Piastri qualified eighth, ahead of the Sauber duo of Valtteri Bottas and hometown hero Guanyu Zhou.
Drops of rain had earlier threatened in Q2, where George Russell was the shock elimination in eleventh, having left a flying run until late in proceedings despite the weather worsening.
Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg went 12th and 13th fastest, ahead of RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, who continues to struggle despite running a new chassis for the event. Lance Stroll was the other driver eliminated in 15th.
Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant failed to progress from Q1.
A Turn 7 grass fire, the second of the weekend after one in the earlier practice, delayed the start of Q2.
The Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race begins at 2.30 pm NZST on Saturday, followed by Grand Prix Qualifying at 6.30 pm.
The Chinese Grand Prix starts at 7.00 pm on Sunday.
Header Image: McLaren
Lando is just making to many mistakes.