Provisional starting grid in China | Verstappen P1, Sainz stays put

Red Bull Racing secured the full front row for the Chinese Grand Prix with Max Verstappen on pole position and Sergio Perez on P2. Fernando Alonso completed the top three. However, his team, Aston Martin, lodged a protest against the qualifying result, meaning Carlos Sainz briefly worried about his P7 but the stewards turned down the protest.

Sainz qualified seventh, ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell and behind Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who will start alongside Oscar Piastri on the third row. Lando Norris was just ahead of his McLaren teammate and starts in fourth place, just behind Alonso.

Both Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg had to report to the stewards after qualifying. The Haas driver overtook in the pit lane and was reprimanded for doing so.