Lando Norris took pole position for the Sprint race at the Shanghai circuit. Lando Norris preceded Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes and Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin.
The Ferraris were Carlos Sainz fourth and Charles Leclerc seventh. The other Red Bull, with Sergio Pérez, achieved the fourth fastest time, ahead of the Haas of German Nico Hulkenberg and Danish Kevin Magnussen. The weekend's only hour of testing was interrupted for a few minutes due to a fire on the grass near the circuit. When the fire, whose origin is unknown, was extinguished, the pilots were able to return to the track.