Lando Norris snatches pole from Lewis Hamilton after reinstatement by FIA at Chinese GP
The 2024 Chinese Grand Prix is off to a flying start after returning to the F1 calendar for the first time since 2019. Max Verstappen once again entered the weekend as the undisputed favorite but it would be safe to claim that the weekend was no less unpredictable as it was a busy session throughout, as drivers had to battle through tough wet conditions during SQ3.
Lewis Hamilton took pole position towards the end of the session, but it was soon taken away from him. The main reason for this was the Lando Norris lap time controversy that confused many. For those who don’t know, the McLaren superstar finished the SQ with a lap time of 1m 57.940s. But it was not counted by the FIA as all four wheels of his MCL38 skidded off the track and touched the gravel.
“Lap time restored” 🤡🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/h6YpFFCP78
— Mercedes-AMG F1 News (@MercedesNewsUK) April 19, 2024
The lap time, which sets the pole, was taken away from Landau for violating track limits. However, towards the end of the session, the FIA reinstated the timing, which did not go down too well with rival fans.
Lewis Hamilton speaks to the media after losing pole position to Lando Norris
The Mercedes legend set a lap time of 1:59.201, ultimately finishing second in SQ, and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top three after registering a time of 1:59.915. It will surprise the world to see defending champion Max Verstappen not on the front row this time around. It will certainly be a sight to behold as the Dutchman has landed on pole on countless occasions and the change may excite some fans as well.
It was a session crammed with action! 🍿
Check out its highlights #F1 Sprint Qualifying in Shanghai 🎥#F1 #ChineseGP
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024
After the qualifying session, Hamilton spoke to the media about the conditions. He didn’t talk about Norris but is feeling happy after finally getting some positive results. he said “As soon as I saw the rain coming I was getting excited because in the dry we weren’t fast enough, so when the rain came I thought I would have a better chance and that’s when everything came alive.
It’s no secret that Hamilton excels in the wet, and his experience is another advantage for the driver. He has achieved some impressive results over the years in slippery conditions, and this year was no different. Despite Mercedes’ setbacks with the W15, Hamilton was remarkable in getting the best out of a car that clearly seemed to lag behind its competitors.
Toto Wolff weighs in on Chinese GP drama
Had Hamilton finished on pole position, there would have been some light at the end of the tunnel for Mercedes. The once successful team now admits that the W15 is nowhere near their competition, Ferrari and Red Bull. It certainly looks like they are no longer fighting for the championship, but instead preparing for the regulation change in 2026.
Team principal Toto Wolff was not pleased after seeing the 7x champ lose pole to the McLaren driver. He said after SQ, “I didn’t see the details, just that four tires were off the track. But, obviously, it was slower [for Norris]. He probably could have gone faster, so I’m fine with that.”
In addition, Wolff was pleased that Hamilton managed to achieve a positive result despite the difficult conditions. It will be interesting to see how the Mercedes team performs in the race and a top three finish would certainly be a great result.