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Verstappen Shocks with Front-Row Claim in 2025 Chinese GP: Triumph or Miscalculation?

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 21, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Verstappen Shocks with Front-Row Claim in 2025 Chinese GP: Triumph or Miscalculation?

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 21: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 on track during Sprint Qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 21, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202503210227 // Usage for editorial use only //

Max Verstappen’s surprising second-place finish in the Sprint Qualifying round for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, despite his Red Bull RB21’s lackluster performance, has put a spotlight on the competitive spirit of this World Champion. Verstappen, who was all smiles post-qualifying, managed to secure a front-row start alongside the Sprint Qualifying winner, Lewis Hamilton. This marks a significant moment as the two World Champions haven’t shared a front row since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.

While the favourites, McLaren, had a disappointing SQ3 performance with Lando Norris making critical errors in both his laps and finishing sixth, Verstappen’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, secured third place – a mere tenth behind Hamilton’s pole time. This unexpected turn of events came as a shock, especially after the practice session where both Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate, Liam Lawson, finished outside the top 10.

Underlining Red Bull’s underdog position, Verstappen hadn’t made a mark in either the SQ1 or SQ2, with McLaren and Mercedes dominating those sessions. However, Verstappen shocked everyone by speeding up his pace in the final part of qualifying to secure his second-place start.

Delighted by this turn of events, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with the Red Bull RB21’s performance. He admitted that they were significantly off during the first practice but was thrilled to have secured a front-row position. He did, however, candidly state that Red Bull “shouldn’t have even been on the front row” given their performance, but he was more than pleased to have secured the second position.

Red Bull’s design philosophy for RB21, as explained by technical director Pierre Waché, revolves around broadening the operating window by toning down the outright potential of the machine. This is an attempt to steer away from last year’s RB20’s “peakiness”. Verstappen’s comfort with the car is a promising sign at this point in the season, even though he described the RB21 on the soft tyre in low-fuel conditions as “too slow.”

Despite the sluggish performance, Verstappen sees this as a motivational boost for the team to continue pushing their limits. He stated that this result encourages them to perfect their laps and maximize their potential, especially when they might be struggling for pace.

Verstappen also expressed personal pride in his qualifying performance. He acknowledged the threat from the McLarens, who had a strong run until their final lap, and predicted a tough race where he would have to work hard to keep them at bay. However, he looked forward to the competition and the opportunity to put on a good race for the fans.

With this unexpected twist, Verstappen has once again proven his ability to rise to the occasion despite the odds. As the Chinese Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on the front row, keenly watching the two World Champions, Verstappen and Hamilton, battle it out on the race track.

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