Max Verstappen takes Red Bull's 100th F1 pole position in China

Max Verstappen stormed to pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix, taking Red Bull's 100th pole position in Formula 1.

He enjoyed the perfect Saturday, winning the Sprint from fourth place on the grid, passing Lewis Hamilton and going on to win by 13 seconds.

The reigning world champion set pace in qualifying later in the day, taking pole position as Hamilton floundered, and will start Sunday's Grand Prix from 18th.

Verstappen will start at the front of the field ahead of teammate Sergio Perez, with Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris in third and fourth.

The pole sitter was pleased with his efforts in China, via formula1.com.

“I think after the Sprint race, it gave us a few more ideas for the car,” Verstappen said. “I think the car worked even better in qualifying now. I’m definitely very happy with how the whole of qualifying went, the car was really nice to drive. Also in Q3 I think that final lap felt pretty decent. I’m also very happy to drive here in the dry, the conditions were pretty good, so it was a lot of fun.”

The Red Bull team is relatively young, having only made its debut in 2005. Despite its youth, the Austrian outfit is the squad with the sixth-most pole positions.

Verstappen has started at the very front of the field consistently so far this season, becoming the first driver since Mika Häkkinen in 1999 to take five poles in the opening five races.

He is the favorite to win the world championship this season, a title that would be his fourth in a row.

Red Bull has good memories in China. It won its first Grand Prix in 2009 with Sebastian Vettel and a second at the Shanghai International Circuit in 2018 with Daniel Ricciardo on a chaotic day.