Lewis Hamilton will start Saturday’s spring qualifier in pole position after pulling off an impressive drive in his new Ferrari, piping Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.018s.
Hamilton also set a new Shanghai Circuit record with his run of 1:30.849s.
This comes after a not-so-great start during the Australian race weekend, where he ran far behind teammate Charles Le Clerc.
But it would appear as though the old Hamilton is back and this time, in red. But even Hamilton himself is shocked by it.
“I’m just a bit gobsmacked, honestly. I’m a bit taken aback by it. I didn’t know when we would get to this position.
“After last weekend, it was a difficult start to the week and I came here with aggression and just wanted to go into the weekend and get the car into a really great place.
"I started out straight away with a better feeling in the car and I can’t believe that we’re at the front, ahead of a McLaren which has been so fast throughout winter testing, the first race, and even today,” Hamilton told F1.
Friday’s session was divided into three runs, Sprint Qualifying 1, 2 and 3 or SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3. Each driver gets a chance to drive three laps, in which they need to perform.
The drivers will then be laid out on the starting grid as per their SQ times for Saturday’s Sprint Qualifying race.
The fastest on Saturday will take pole position for Sunday’s main race, and Hamilton thinks it’s his first real opportunity to give the Ferrari a go.
“I didn’t get to do a race run in Bahrain. Obviously we did the race last weekend in the wet, but tomorrow will be kind of my first real long-ish run and Sunday will be my first proper race run in the dry with this car, so I’ll be learning.
"I’m hoping that we can hold onto it but I think the McLarens are very, very fast, as is Max. But we’re in a good position, we’ll stay positive, we’ll keep our heads high and keep pushing forwards,” the 7-time World Champion said.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri will start 3rd behind Verstappen, with Charle Le Clerc in 4th and George Russell to close the top 5.
Lando Norris, who finished fastest in the practice session, will start the race from P6 ahead of Mercedes Kimi Antonelli.
Jack Doohan, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg and Liam Lawson were out of the race in SQ1 and will start from the back of the pack.