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In a thrilling qualifying session marred by treacherous wet conditions, McLaren’s Lando Norris defied the odds to snatch pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, denying Lewis Hamilton a potential front-row start.

Norris’s daring lap of 1min 57.940sec on intermediate wet tires initially appeared to be disqualified for exceeding track limits. However, a dramatic reinstatement a minute later sent shockwaves through the paddock.

Fernando Alonso, showcasing his experience and guile, secured third place in his Aston Martin, while championship leader Max Verstappen settled for fourth.

Norris, who claimed his second career sprint pole, admitted to the risks involved in his all-or-nothing approach. “It was tricky, you are always nervous going into a session like this,” he said. “You just have to risk a lot, push and build tire temperature.”

Verstappen, whose final lap was deleted after a trip across the gravel, expressed his frustration with the wet conditions. “It was just like driving on ice,” he said. “That is why also I think we deserved to be where we are in qualifying, it isn’t really working for me in the wet but it is not where we are in the dry.”

Hamilton, who has endured a disappointing start to the 2024 season, expressed his delight at the prospect of starting from the front row. “So happy, as soon as I saw the rain coming I was getting excited,” he said. “In dry conditions we’re not quick enough.”

Alonso echoed Hamilton’s sentiments, acknowledging the benefits of the late rain. “We were not super competitive on the dry,” he said. “In the wet it was difficult to judge the level of grip and risk we wanted to apply but in the end I am happy.”

Sainz, who finished fifth, attributed his struggles to the difficulty in warming up his intermediate tires. “We didn’t manage to switch on the tyres so we couldn’t push,” said the Spaniard.

Hometown hero Zhou Guanyu made history by qualifying for the third qualifying session, earning a 10th-place start for Sauber in the sprint race. The 24-year-old Chinese driver received a thunderous ovation from the crowd at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Verstappen, who has won three out of four grands prix this season, remains the favorite for the sprint race. However, the unpredictable conditions and the presence of Alonso, Hamilton, and Norris on the front row set the stage for an intriguing battle.