Antonelli’s first lap within the ultimate session was 0.298secs faster than Russell’s. He was on target to enhance on his ultimate run however locked up into the hairpin and misplaced time.
The 19-year-old Italian mentioned: “Tremendous pleased with the session. It was one, a clear one. And I felt excellent within the automobile and each run I used to be simply bettering and bettering.
“Disgrace in regards to the final lap after a lock-up in Flip 11 however it was one earlier than that.”
Antonelli turned the youngest driver to take an F1 pole place in China and is rising as a critical menace to Russell within the championship – they begin the race separated by 4 factors, lower than the margin between first and second locations in a grand prix.
Russell, who was complaining of an absence of rear grip all through qualifying, was faster than Antonelli within the troublesome first sector of the lap however misplaced out over the remainder.
“Actually unusual session,” the Briton mentioned. “We had been each very quick all weekend. We made some changes after ultimate follow and on this qualifying we had been nowhere so we now have to attempt to perceive.”
Piastri, in the meantime, was happy with the plain progress McLaren have made this weekend, throughout which they’ve for the primary time been within the combine with Ferrari because the closest challengers to Mercedes.
“We’ve got appeared good all weekend,” mentioned the Australian, who’s but to start out a grand prix this season after a crash on the reconnaissance lap in Australia and a battery failure in China earlier than the beginning.
“We do not have the tempo to match Mercedes nonetheless however we’re getting nearer.”
