Mercedes AMG was back in full form at today’s qualifying session for the 2015 Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, with its drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg locking out the front row for tomorrow’s race. Hamilton was the fastest and thus will start at pole. He posted a 1:35.782 in Q3 to earn his third-straight pole this season and the 41st of his career. Rosberg was right behind his teammate, with a 1:35.824.
The third fastest was Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, though he was nearly a full second off the pace of the reigning world champion with his time of 1:36.687 in Q3. Fourth fastest was Williams’ Felipe Massa with a 1:36.954. Filling out spots five and six on the grid tomorrow will be Williams’ Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen respectively.
At seventh will be Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo while next to him at eighth will be Lotus’ Romain Grosjean. Then it will be the two Sauber drivers, with Felipe Nasr at ninth and Marcus Ericsson rounding out the top ten.
Neither of the McLarens got past Q1, though their times of 1:39.276 (Jenson Button) and 1:39.280 (Fernando Alonso) weren’t the slowest of the day. That honor goes to Marussia, though it was good to see the team with both its drivers qualifying.
Weather conditions are still predicted to be good for tomorrow’s race at the Shanghai International Circuit. Going in, Hamilton remains on top of the 2015 Drivers’ Championship standings with 43 points, with Vettel in second just three points behind. Rosberg is currently third with 33 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes has a clear lead with 76 points, followed by Ferrari on 52 points and Williams on 30 points.
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