Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver to set pole position in Formula 1 history by leading team-mate George Russell at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Russell ended up 0.222 seconds adrift of the Italian after a race against time to solve a gearbox problem with his car that threatened to leave him 10th on the grid.

Mercedes managed to repair Russell's car just in time to get him out for a final lap and he managed to sneak ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

McLaren locked out the third row on a two-by-two grid with Oscar Piastri ahead of world champion Lando Norris.

Read the full report here

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Mercedes are starting with two cars at the front of the pack for the second Sunday grand prix of the season but this time it's teenager Kimi Antonelli with the advantage over team-mate George Russell.

The pair will need to keep an eye on their mirrors, though, as fighting each hard and draining energy will open the door to Lewis Hamilton in third - that's if the Ferrari driver hasn't already propelled himself ahead of the two Silver Arrows off the line.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen has just been speaking to Sky Sports and after qualifying in eighth for tomorrow's race and says there's nothing he can do with this car. "Every lap is a fight," the Dutchman adds, "every lap is difficult, survival. I'm not enjoying it at all."

World champion Lando Norris, meanwhile, thought McLaren "had a little bit more", adding he made a bit of a mistake on his final lap. Oscar Piastri says the constructors' champions are "a little bit behind" and "lacking in grip".

So, what will Sunday bring us? Possibly a lot of overtakes in the opening laps, like we saw in Melbourne last week and the sprint race earlier today.

We'll be up and running at 06:15 GMT for build-up to the Chinese Grand Prix, with lights out at 07:00.

See you on Sunday!

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Kimi Antonelli's maiden pole position in Formula 1 has now been ticked off the to-do list but can the Italian follow that up with his first grand prix victory?

So far in 2026, race starts haven't been Antonelli's strong point and with team-mate George Russell alongside him on the front row and the rapid Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton just behind, can the Italian put it all together and hold the more experienced drivers at bay?

The top three have taken their seats in the post-qualifying news conference and Hamilton is giving warm words to his younger competitor. "An amazing achievement," says the seven-time world champion.

He then jokes: "He took my seat! And he hit it hard from the get-go."

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc who will start in fourth for Sunday's race: "There wasn't much more for us, for me, struggling a lot on this track for some reason. That has always been the case, it is not that I am not trying. I am putting a lot of effort into it but I just struggling in qualifying.

"These cars have to be driven a bit differently in qualifying so there is some work going on to try and optimise everything which will put us closer to Mercedes eventually. But pretty satisfised with the track that I struggle with.

On the battle with Lewis Hamilton during the sprint race: "No, we did not speak but it will be fine."

S: Good to see Hamilton at his best, far too long in doldrums. Don't like new rules but it is what it is. Good to see unknowns performing.

Ken Winslade: Not sure what I'm enjoying more so far this season. Another Brit dominating, Lewis back in the mix or Max unable to do anything and moaning all the time. Simply lovely.

Phil Tucker: Massive following for Lewis coming alive again after four years of misery. I am so pleased for him. Ferrari are very lucky to have him.

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Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who will start the race in third: "It was actually a really tough qualifying, a bit harder this one with the wind. It is so gusty today so putting the laps together was challenging. Charles put in great laps, the Mercedes put in great laps.

"I am really, really happy to be up here. Grateful to be up here with these guys, they have been rapid this season. We did some good work, the engineers did some great work over the break and we managed to get a little closer to [Mercedes] so that's a real positive.

"It is still going to be a challenge, but I'm sure we'll have some fun [in the race], I'm looking forward to it. We learnt a lot in the sprint race. Our goal is to break the gap between these guys somehow."

Fiifi Mensah: I’m now fully convinced that it is the car which determines the championship

Clive Green: Forget the driver, what fantastic work by Russell's pit crew!

Chris Alessi: George comes out does one lap and is P2. Tells you all you need to know about Mercedes return to top form this year.

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Mercedes' George Russell, who had issues in Q3 but starts on the front row in P2: "Damage limitation. In Q2 the wing broke, so we were wrapping our heads around that. Then I went out in Q3, stopped on track, restarting, couldn't chage gear but really happy to be standing here.

"At the start of the last lap, I had no battery, nothing. But the team has done a really great job to get us in this position - it could've been much worse. Very glad and well done to this guy [Antonelli]. Awesome.

On the threat of Ferrari's race start: "They were super-fast off the line. For us, we just have to keep it clean, have a good race, put a good race on for the fans and see what we can do."

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Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who becomes the youngest polesitter in F1 history: "It was a pretty intense session, really happy, unfortunately George had an issue in Q3. I think it was a really good session. No mistakes and looking forward to the race tomorrow.

"I saw he had the issue but I tried to keep my focus to stay calm and try to deliver a good lap, at the end."

Paul Rickelsford: Early days but could we have a four-horse race for this year's title? Maybe even an 19-year-old world champion?

Kimi Antonelli has entered the Formula 1 record books as the youngest driver to take pole position for a grand prix at 19 years and 212 days old, beating out four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who was 21 years and 72 days old.

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11. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

12. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

13. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

15. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

17. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

18. Alex Albon (Williams)

19. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

21. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

22. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1:32.064

2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.222

3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.351

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.364

5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.486

6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.544

7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.809

8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.938

9. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +1.057

10. Oliver Bearman (Haas) +1.228

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

They will be thrilled, a great job by the Mercedes team to ensure that [George Russell's] car got back out again and is now on the front row instead of the fifth row where his car was destined to be. To be on the front row for tomorrow's race is almost like a win for him.

Kimi Antonelli is on course to be polesitter in Shanghai but George Russell is still fighting for this front row spot. The Briton crosses the line but he's 0.222 seconds away from the Italian's top marker, so it's second for Russell on Sunday.

Charles Leclerc has clocked the fastest middle sector but Kimi Antonelli extends his lead by 0.486 seconds over the McLaren of Oscar Piastri.

Leclerc completes his lap but his time is only good enough for P2, which is now P3 because Lewis Hamilton has climbed onto the front row alongside Antonelli!

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

They have 60 seconds to get [George Russell's] car out if they want to do a competitive lap in Q3. Are Mercedes going to send out the car or is it not ready?

George Russell makes his way out of the pit lane and is hurtling around the Shanghai International Circuit so he can make it around in time to get a lap on the board.

One of the Mercedes is joining the track but it's not George Russell. The mechanics are still working but it looks like the Briton could be set to head out shortly.

Kimi Antonelli leads Oscar Piastri by 0.228 with the other McLaren of Lando Norris in third.