This time his getaway off the line was far better than in Australia, but Russell was unable to hold on to the lead on the opening lap of the Sprint in China, as Hamilton swept past him just before the long back straight after a brilliant launch.
Russell soon asserted the superior pace of the W17, reclaiming the position from his former teammate and pulling clear at the front. The Mercedes driver then managed the race comfortably in the closing stages following the Safety Car restart, securing his second win of the season after his triumph in Melbourne.
Ferrari nevertheless looked competitive, with the two drivers engaging in an intense late battle that ultimately saw Leclerc come out on top, crossing the line less than a second behind the race winner.
George Russell – Photo: RacePictures
After a chaotic Sprint that saw him slip out of the podium places following a ten-second penalty for his clash with Isack Hadjar, Antonelli responded in the best possible way by delivering a sensational lap in qualifying to secure the first pole position of his Formula 1 career.
The Mercedes driver also took advantage of a technical issue that struck his teammate, beating him by two tenths and writing his name into the record books as the youngest pole-sitter in Formula 1 history at just 19 years old.
Should he manage to convert pole into victory on Sunday, Italy could celebrate a long-awaited return to the top step of the podium. The country has not produced a Formula 1 race winner since Fisichella’s triumph at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix with Force India.
Photo: Race Pictures
